NFL Preview, Part 1: AFC West

I started my look at the NFL’s upcoming season with an in depth look at the Vikings a couple days ago, and now that my plans for the next couple of days include a trip to Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, I figured that It would be in my best interest to get started on the preview for the rest of the league. We shall start with the AFC West. Teams are listed in the order I expect them to finish.
Kansas City Chiefs – The West this year looks to be one of the weaker ones in all football, which doesn’t bode well for them, since the AFC is the clearly stronger conference. The Chiefs, the only team to be truly dominant on either side of the football (their offense) are the only team I could pick to win this division. Trent Green is, begrudgingly, an effective quarterback who makes good decisions, and even Reggie Bush will tell you Larry Johnson is rated number one over at ESPN. The only thing close to a strength on defense is their secondary which A) isn’t all that important in a run first division and B) is rapidly changing from “veteran” to “old”. But they will go 9-7 or so and win the west.
Denver Broncos – The Broncos are the Atlanta Braves of professional football. Even though they don’t have an overwhelming cast, they seem to always be in contention, and I can’t bring myself to pick them to finish lower than second. They posess a capable air attack with good receivers and a good offensive line, which forgives Mike Shanahan’s choice to go without a running back this year. Their defense is going to be servicable. It has a solid defensive line with names I can’t help but root for (Elvis Dumervil, Ebenezer Ekuban, Peter Chukwurah and Chukie Nwokori, for example) and they have an elite corner in Champ Bailey for those times when they host Randy Moss and the Raiders. The real question is whether or not Jake Plummer will maintain his form and not combust, or if we will see Jay Cutler sooner rather than later.
San Diego Chargers – I just can’t get behind a team that gives up on a quarterback because of an easily operable shoulder injury. Sure, they had Philip Rivers waiting in the wings, but given the Chargers’ recent history of drafted quarterbacks, (see: Ryan Leaf) I would be a little gunshy about giving the reins of what would otherwise be a playoff team to a guy who could only get to the Tangerine Bowl in college. Of course, the Chargers do have Ladanian Tomlinson running the ball and a rapidly improving defense, featuring Igor Olshansky and Twins second baseman Luis Castillo on the line, as well as good linebackers, Like Donnie Edwards and Shawne Merriman. Of course, their defensive backfield is dreadful, so at least one team on the field will have a passing attack when the Chargers play.
Oakland Raiders – The Raiders have a poor coach, a bad quarterback, a mediocre running back, a miserable defense, a drunk kicker and an elite wide receiver. That should about sum them up. Maybe Steve will have more to say on the Raiders’ chances at another time.

All in all, the AFC west might just get two teams into the playoffs this year, as they are helped by a fortuitous schedule, playing both the NFC west and the AFC central, meaning everyone gets a game against the Browns, 49ers, and Rams.