2014 NFL Preview, AFC West


Today I continue my 2014 NFL previews with the AFC West. This is the last of the AFC divisions, and I think the best. Below I have the teams in the order I believe they finish.

1. Denver Broncos
About: This team has been 13-3 the past two seasons, and has won the division the last three seasons. With Peyton Manning, a host of weapons, and a decent defense this team will once again be near the top of the heap in the AFC. There appears to be no Super Bowl hangover (arguably they had the hangover in the actual Super Bowl), as the Broncos' first-team offense has been sharp this preseason. I think this is going to be a good team that will make a run again. As always, it's the post season where you start to wonder if the Broncos are good enough to win it all. Again, too, it comes down to health. The Broncos, on paper, have a really deep team. But if the injuries pile up, that will be tested. And a key injury could cripple the team. But for now, this should be an easy division win for the Broncos and another run at an NFL title.

2. San Diego Chargers
About: The Chargers came on at the end of the season and snuck into the playoffs. The team beat the Bengals and played the Broncos tough before going out in the second round. I think the Chargers are poised to have another good season. They have some good weapons, and coach Mike McCoy has done a good job of getting the most out of Phillip Rivers. The Chargers look to be improving on defense, too. I'm cautiously predicting a return to the playoffs for this team. I think the Chargers will be right there at 9-7 or 10-6 again this season.

3. Kansas City Chiefs
About: The Chiefs were one of the big success stories of 2013, but they didn't have a great off-season. There is some feeling, too, that the Chiefs did a lot of what they did with smoke and mirrors. They had good luck, a good defense, and an easy schedule. The schedule won't be easy this year, the team has some holes — most notably on the offensive line — and they haven't looked good in the pre-season. Much like the Carolina Panthers, I think this team is on a path to regression. What does that mean, exactly? Well, I don't think the Chiefs will bottom out. But a record anywhere from 8-8 to 6-10 seems more likely. I don't think the Chiefs will make the playoffs, and the team will have some hard decisions to make going forward.

4. Oakland Raiders
About: What to say about the Raiders? It feels like an eternity since the team made the Super Bowl. They haven't had a winning record since, and there is nothing to suggest that will change this year. The team spent money, but did they really improve? Matt Schaub and Maurice Jones-Drew moved from poor teams in the AFC South to the Raiders, but that doesn't make the Raiders a contender. I think the ceiling for this team is 6-10, but they're more likely to win four or five games. This could spell the end for coach Dennis Allen, who's done little to improve the Raiders. The team has some optimism for Derek Carr, it's rookie quarterback, to be the future of the franchise, but there's not much on this team that will help him develop. The team is probably better off with Schaub for now. Either way, it seems like another long season for Oakland.

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