This will not be a Raider heavy blog. Even though I am a Raider fan, I will call it like I see it.
This division hasn't been relevant for a while but the games are still fun to watch. Teams like the Broncos and Chargers have underachieved and Chiefs have benefited and gotten better at the same time. The Raiders are the Raiders. Last season you never knew what you were going to get out of any of these teams.
With the Chargers, either this is the most "snake-bitten" team ever or the coach has got to go. Overall, the Chargers have had the most talent and better team of the 4 but no real noise in the playoffs. Norv Turner has proven he is a great regular season coach but he disappears in the playoffs. Its like he forgets how to coach. For the last 5+years, the Chargers have been the team to win this division. Since 2003, the Chargers won 5 times and only reached the AFC championship game once. On offense, outside of the RB position, the Chargers have more talents and the QB, WR and TE positions as any of the other top teams in the league and have nothing to show for it. Once again, the Chargers are favored. I'm not impressed.
The Chiefs are out to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, even though they were bounced early in the playoffs. As the defending division champs, they are the team to beat but given that they won by one game doesn't encourage me at all. 10-6 last year but at their very best this is a 11-5 team. They can't run the table in the division (like the Raiders did) and still have question at the RB position. J Charles had a good year last year but will he improve or at least match those numbers this season. The first team for the Chiefs didn't look good at all. M Cassell has cracked ribs and I have zero faith in his backups, whoever they are. Tyler Palko is a second year player who has thrown 6 passes in the NFL and Ricky Stanzi is a rookie. Yeah, once again, NOT IMPRESSED!! RB Charles can only carry the Chiefs so far. In a division like this, RBs are eaten alive without a capable QB handing them the rock.
The Broncos are still in trouble. Kyle OrtOn is the best they have at QB but QB isn't their problem. The O-Line is still terrible. K Moreno has his work cut out for him as the the #1 back. Outside of the Bengals (wk 2) and the Bills (wk 16), the Broncos will play teams that are all better then they are. Yes, that includes the Raiders, Yeah, I said it!!! Remember how the Raiders embarrassed them 59-14 at Invesco Field. Go ahead and watch the highlights on YouTube. Obviously, the biggest hole on this team is the defense. They can't stop anyone from scoring. Last in the division again.
The Raiders, well are the Raiders. The Raiders did show a lot of improvement last year. They didn't lose a single division game but lost out of division and out of conference games they should have won (Cards wk 3, 49ers wk 6, Jags wk 14 and even the Colts wk 16). Even if I let the Colts game slide, which I don't, the Raiders win the division and would have shown up against the Ravens if not won that game. That just proves the point that you have to beat the team you're supposed to and win those divisional games as well. The Raiders were 1for2. The O-Line got better but the secondary isn't the same with Nnamdi leaving. Growing pains there but the situation isn't hopeless. The Raiders don't have an overly tough schedule but they can't beat themselves and expect to win. J Campbell is looking very comfortable in the pocket and has shown to be able to be a good field general. Scoring won't be a problem for the Raiders and they should average 17-20 ppg. As long as the defense steps up and LB McClain continues to lead the defense, the Raiders are ready to compete in the division. They are still not SB contenders but the growth is encouraging. Al Davis needs to stay in the owners box and let Coach Jackson do his thing. Raiders 10-6!
The Chargers, on paper should win but I'm picking the Raiders to win the division. YEAH, I SAID IT!!!
D!
The truth is that this division will continue to suck :-| Sorry, its true.
ReplyDeleteDenver is still trying to pick up the pieces after the train wreck McDaniels created. Orton is just not that good of a QB and Tebow is worse. Sorry! Putting their seasons hopes on the #2 draft pick at linebacker and the combo of Moreno and McGahee is just not good business. I have a feeling they start the season with a loss against the Raiders (yea I said it) and if they are lucky (or they just plan it that way) they will suck bad enough to have a chance at Luck in next years draft. :-)
Raiders: Their best D player and best receiver are gone. They need Campbell to progress QUICKLY! They need McFadden to get and stay healthy NOW! Having said that, the Raiders have two things going for them: a scary D-line and the chance to start the season 2-0 (Denver wk 1, Buffalo wk 2). I think their record will resemble last years (8-8) My suggestion would be worry about fixing your O-line and secondary and off your owner already!
The Chargers are the most talented team in this division... fortunately for the rest of us they just cant seem to put it together. Slow starts, injuries, and a wishy washy special-T squad has hurt them in recent seasons. If they can keep their top receivers on the field so Rivers (most passing yardage in the NFL last season, even though he was forced to throw to 17 dif receivers) has someone to actually throw to it will be a huge step up from last season.
Awe and the bane of my existence (does LA have a fricken team yet???) KC: I will try and keep this short. Cassel sucks (and is also hurt) our backups at QB are not impressive. Our schedule is so loaded it will be amazing if we can finish the season with enough healthy guys to put on the field. If (and these are big ifs) KC can maintain their passing game from last season, be as explosive as numbers show we can be at full and running back (McClain, Jones, Charles), utilize our unique offense (Bowe, Baldwin and Breaston) and Hali earns his $60 mil, we just might be in OKAY shape. Oh but wait our last 5 games are playoff teams....shoot me now.
Honestly I think if SD slips, KC could grab the division again. I hope it looks like this: KC, SD, Raiders, Denver. Most likely it will look like this: SD, KC, Raiders, Denver. YEA I SAID IT!