Around the NFL: AFC West

2004 Standings:

Chargers 12-4
Broncos 10-6
Chiefs 7-9
Raiders 5-11

Predictions for 2005:

Chargers 11-5: The Bolts came outta nowhere last year and ran away with the West. I think they're still strong this year, they've got a great D, a great running game and a pretty good passing attack.

Chiefs 10-6: The key to the Chiefs is obviously the D. They're going to score, they just need to be able to stop people once in a while. I think they'll bounce back this year and be in the running for a wild card.

Broncos 7-9: The moves the Broncos made especially on the defensive line are very questionable. They basically signed away the Cleveland d-line which was miserable. Shanahan is losing his luster in Denver.

Raiders 7-9: The offense should be improved but the D is a huge question mark. I really liked the signing of Lamont Jordan, and you can't hate Moss either. I'm still not sold on this talk that Collins will have a huge year. Moss is bound to help him, but he's no Culpepper that's for sure.

Chiefs 11-5: I think the difference on defense this year will be D. Johnson....I know, I know he's a rookie. But I think he could add just enough to make the Chiefs a game betrter than the Chargers.

Chargers 10-6: Like Brees and Co. I think they improved D through the draft. The key here is that they have so many of their starters returning. It could be a toss between them and the Chiefs.

Raiders 8-8: - Moss and Jordan were good aquisitions. Sapp is fat and overated and they'll probably start a rookie at conerback, F. Washington, who isn't as good as Carlos Rodgers. Good enough to win 8.

Broncos 8-8: I agree with the first comments on the D-line from Cleveland, not sure that's gonna work or the J. Rice signing. J. Plummer is very good piling up stats, but he'll make just enough ints to kill you.

First let me say that I see this as perhaps the most competitive division in the NFL.

Chargers 11-5: If Brees plays like last year and LT and Gates stay healthy, this team is in good shape. The Defense is good, and the WR corp is unspectacular but deep and solid.

Chiefs 10-6: Nice bounce back year for the Cheifs. Obviously you gotta love their O-line, running game and QB. But, I think they may have some problems at WR and the defense is just still not there. Take into account that they have to play the Broncos, Raiders and Chargers offenses twice.......and that could spell some trouble. It's going to be very hard to outscore the teams in their own division.

Broncos 9-7: I think they've lost some luster. I'm still not convinced by Plummer (but I love Lelie and Smith). I don't think either Anderson or Bell are up to past Denver RB standards.......but they are still very good backs....just not superstar material IMO. The defense is probably going to lose them some games. The D-line is in bad shape, the secondary is weak (Champ got burned repeatedly last year).....but I do love their LB corp. Maybe a wildcard, but I see them missing the playoffs.

Raiders 8-8: Gotta love this offense. Just a deadly combination of players here. Lamont, Moss, Porter, Curry, and Collins can throw the deep ball. Still well below average on Defense though, and that kills them in the AFC. Every one of their games should be a shootout.......figure they'll win half of those.

This is a division full of flawed teams - each one has a weakness. The contest will be to see who can hide theirs the best.

Chargers (10-6): Brees playing under a franchise deal with Rivers backing him up will come to a head this season. Too much of this offense is predicated on the health and ability of Tomlinson - everyone else's success depends on it. A lackluster WR corps will again put the spotlight on Gates and Tomlinson to catch a lot of balls.

Chiefs (9-7): No defense to speak of, and a WR corps that can be handled by most corner tandems. Look for more aof a platoon at RB, as Johnson emerges and Holmes ages.

Oakland (7-9): A good offense got much better. A mediocre defense got a year older.

Denver (6-10): The WR corps is getting old - and I'm not even including Jerry Rice, who is the likely slot receiver. Smith has been great, but Lelie needs to make good on his potential. Plummer is prone to errors. The defensive coodinator of this team needs to learn that just because you have corners who can be put on an island, doesn't mean you have to do it every play. If he doesn't, Champ Bailey will once again lead the league in "occasions a multi-millionaire got burnt by a nobody".

i think the chiefs bounce back... they got a couple good defenders now and their offense is aging, but its been consistantly good.

the broncos had a bad draft, but they're still the only team last year to finish in the top 5 on offense and defense.

I think the chargers will have better WRs this year, (mccardell, caldwell etc) and be strong again

i dont think the raiders can stop anyone, and even though they got a decent qb that can throw deep, he does throw ints...

chargers, chiefs (wildcard), broncos, raiders...

Chiefs: 13-3: The window on this team is closing but I think they have one final push left. I think Larry Johnson will play a much more prominent role in this team, as many have already stated. The defense is the weak link but they've made some key acquisitions. I'm surprised no one really is talking about Patrick Surtain. That move seems to have flown under the radar

Chargers: 10-6: (wildcard). Typical Marty team. Solid play, nothing too spectacular. What you see is what you get.

Raiders: 6-10: I have a feeling they're going to be on the short end of a lot of 35-31 games

Broncos: 6-10: I can't figure out the fascination with Jake Plummer.

Raiders: 6-10: I have a feeling they're going to be on the short end of a lot of 35-31 games


that's a great quote.