The wait is over.
It’s time to kickoff yet another NFL preview with the division that brought us last year’s Super Bowl champion! In the interest of full disclosure, only Anthony Hueston correctly predicted the Denver Broncos making the Super Bowl at the start of last season, however we each had the Green Bay Packers winning it all (not our best work). This season, we’ve decided to use one word (some real, some made up) to describe the mindset, outlook or position that each team is in heading into 2016.
Drop your comments and your prediction for the AFC West below!
San Diego Chargers- Unrefinement
Always a step slow; always a day late and a dollar short.
For years, the Chargers have felt like the franchise that was always should be admitted into the country club of NFL franchises, but just when they’re about to receive their membership, somebody insults somebody’s wife or throws up on a dignitary. San Diego’s handling of the Joey Bosa situation is unbecoming of an elite franchise. Both sides are to blame actually, but when many of your high draft picks have all had issues with signing the dotted line (Rivers, Tomlinson, Jammer, Merriman, Liuget etc.), and chased away Eli Manning, maybe it’s you?
That same poor judgment had the team beefing with their best defensive player, Eric Weddle, last season. Weddle left for Baltimore in March, thus ensuring the San Diego bookend of alienating their defensive leader of the past and their defensive leader of the future. While Bosa finally ended his holdout today, the damage has already been done. Bosa (or “Lil Watt” as I’ve called him for years) will likely be out of shape and will start the season behind the proverbial eight ball, while the Bolts continue to look like a Mickey Mouse organization.
The Chargers offensive line was shuffled more than Ickey last season. As a result, Melvin Gordon stunk (this could also be a product of him being average at sports) and once again Phil Rivers is left to pick up the pieces. Between this, the lack of major offseason additions and the looming move to LA still hanging over the heads of their fans (M-I-C…K-E-Y…), it’s no wonder why the Chargers membership somehow always gets lost in the mail.
Oakland Raiders- Promise
The Chargers aren’t the only team dealing with relocation rumors. While the Raiders may or may not be out of the running for a return back to L.A., the Vegas rumors just won’t go away. Sin City would be so lucky— the Raiders have one of the most talented and exciting young teams in football.
Contrary to the Cleveland Browns “Cycle of Losing” draft strategy, recently the Raiders have consistently acquired high picks, stayed in their slot and (GASP!) drafted good players! Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper all rose to Pro Bowl status within their first two seasons. Now West Virginia safety Karl Joseph joins the list of high picks looking to return Oakland to their glory days (think N.W.A.’s heyday). With the retirement of future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, the shoes Joseph will be asked too fill are quite large. The addition of Bruce Irvin will bring some more nasty to Jack Del Rio’s defense.
Everybody expects for the Raiders to make “the jump”. The smart money says they will, even if that jump is still one more year away.
Kansas City Chiefs- Valor
In order to achieve greatness, one must dare to be great. It sounds elementary, but it’s something most people not named Kanye West struggle with. For all the overall talent this team possesses, it took the Chiefs nearly two full years to throw a touchdown pass to a wide receiver. While that drought may have ended last season, Andy Reid, Alex Smith and the ultra-conservative Chiefs offense has still been subject to ridicule by people like ESPN’s Bomani Jones for years.
Jamaal Charles, who basically has been the entire Chiefs offense the last half decade, is coming off a torn ACL in his right knee, matching the ACL tear in his left knee from 2011. Justin Houston ended last season banged up as well, leaving the Chiefs with a talent void they couldn’t overcome against New England in the playoffs. The good news is Eric Berry signed the franchise tag on Sunday and should be back in the fold. He, along with last year’s rookie standout Marcus Peters, will be tasked with anchoring the back end of one of the league’s most dynamic defenses. But the Chiefs won’t surpass the reigning division champions unless they dare to be great…and occasionally throw the ball more than 10 yards down the field.
Denver Broncos- Culture
It’s the one thing of which every NFL franchise is in a desperate search. Scratch that, it’s the one thing every franchise in every every major sport is in search for: locating and cultivating the right culture.
The Denver Broncos have made the playoffs five straight years. In 2012, they won a playoff game with ostensible baseball prodigy Tim Tebow at quarterback. They’ve also won playoff games with Jake Plummer under center. They’ve made two of the last three Super Bowls, winning the biggest game in sports just six months ago. Even more impressive, they did it with two different coaches and two different teams; one was arguably the greatest offense ever, the other two years later had the best defense in the league. This organization has won three Super Bowls since 1998, the most of any team not named the Patriots. Aside from a five year stretch in the mid to late 2000s, the Broncos have been a pillar of consistency ever since they drafted John Elway in 1983. So why now is everyone expecting them to fall off this season?
Those who believe the quarterback trio of Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch and newly-named starter Trevor Siemian will hold this team back clearly didn’t watch Peyton Manning last year— he was HORRIBLE! He was second only to Blake Bortles in interceptions, despite playing in just 10 games; Brock Osweiler wasn’t much better. The quarterback play in Denver can’t possibly get any worse than it did last season. The defense on the other hand lost a few guys who can still play— the core pieces mostly remain intact though (Harris, Wolfe, Ware, Talib [albeit with one non-shot leg], Ward, Roby, Stewart etc.), and Von Miller’s deal was (finally) consummated in mid July.
The Broncos have built a winning culture, yet most don’t seem to believe they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. This is why Elway believed he could get away with not paying Miller for as long as he did (does Belichick give anybody huge money besides Gronk & Brady?) We rip teams to shreds when they can’t get the culture right (see San Diego), but we’re afraid to buy in when a franchise actually has it. Expect Denver, despite a clusterf*ck of a QB situation, to still challenge for a playoff spot, if not win this division yet again.
Justin’s AFC West Champ: Denver Broncos
Anthony’s AFC West Champ: Kansas City Chiefs
Kenneth’s AFC West Champ: Denver Broncos