2017 AFC West Preview

We've made it to the end of August, which means football season is almost here! As such, I'm well underway in my set of previews for the upcoming season.

I've spent the last few days going division by division, rounding my way around the country before ultimately ending in the division of the defending champion. After today, we'll be halfway home.

With a week until the start of the NFL season, there is still time to get in on picking NFL games against the spread. Adam Quinn will join me once again in a weekly feature where we'll pick the games, and you can join our fun here.

Let's get on to the preview.


AFC West

Common opponents on schedule: AFC East, NFC East

1. Oakland Raiders
2016: 12-4 (2nd), lost in AFC Wild Card Round

Of Oakland's four losses last year, two were to the Chiefs, which kept them from winning the division, but they doubled what I expected from them in terms of wins, so clearly they've arrived. They get the benefit of a second place schedule as well, which will help Derek Carr as he continues his rise with Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to throw to, and the now unretired Marshawn Lynch trucking fools out of the backfield. The biggest problem with this team is that their defense, aside from Khalil Mack, is pretty bad; they were one of the worst scoring defenses last year, and teams could throw on them pretty much at will. Given the likelihood of leads they'll hold this year, that may not change much, but it'll still be enough that they'll be good.
2017 Prediction: 11-5

2. Kansas City Chiefs
2016: 12-4 (1st), lost in AFC Divisional Round

Alex Smith is still checking down, but Andy Reid has his heir apparent in Patrick Mahomes II waiting in the wings. They're back to having mediocre wide receivers, though Travis Kelce is one of the best tight ends in football. But the running game will suffer; Jamaal Charles is gone, and Spencer Ware, who was their top back, is probably out for the year. Fortuantely the defense led by Justin Houston and Eric Berry is still around, and the group that led the league in takeaways last year needs to hope for more of the same if they want to repeat.
2017 Prediction: 10-6, Wild Card

3. Denver Broncos
2016: 9-7 (3rd), missed playoffs

Trevor Siemian wasn't bad last season, but he'll need to take a step forward this year if the Broncos want to stay relevant. They've still got good weapons in C.J. Anderson, Demariyus Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders, but I wonder a little about the defense. Von Miller remains a force, and there are good pieces around him in Brandon Marshall, Aqib Talib, and Chris Harris, Jr. I just worry that this is too much pressure on the defense that can't be kept together for much longer to carry the weight, though if the Chiefs prove to have too many injuries to overcome, the door is certainly open for Denver.
2017 Prediction: 8-8

4. Los Angeles Chargers
2016: 5-11 (4th), missed playoffs

Now that Dean Spanos screwed over San Diego to move into a 30000 seat soccer stadium for the next few years, Los Angeles has another team it doesn't deserve or really care about. Phillip Rivers is nearing the end of his career, though he still has some decent weapons in Antonio Gates, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. But Gates is near the end of his career as well, and you have to wonder how much these guys have left in the tank. They'll need a lot, because other than bookends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram as well as corner Casey Heyward, I'm not sold on the defense. It'll mean a long year in a small stadium with a greedy owner.
2017 Prediction: 4-12