Over the next four weeks I will be previewing and predicting each division in the NFL. This edition is the putrid AFC West.1. San Diego Chargers
2008 Record: 8-8, AFC West champs
Coach: Norv Turner (3rd year San Diego, 81-98-1 career) Schedule: http://www.chargers.com/schedule/
Key Additions: DE/OLB Larry English
Key Losses: G Mike Goff, C Jeremy Newberry, DE Igor Olshansky
2009 Outlook: In 2008, the Chargers went from 4-8 and the biggest disappointments in the NFL, to an 8-8 finish. 8-8 was good enough for a division title in the sorry AFC West, and then the Chargers earned an upset playoff victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The off-season saw little change for the Chargers, who were able to restructure RB LaDainian Tomlinson's contract, after questions arose about their commitment to the suddenly faltering star. Norv Turner is still an awful head coach, but the Chargers have too much talent to allow his awfulness to overtake them. QB Philip Rivers is a top 5 quarterback, RB Darren Sproles is a big play waiting to happen, and WR Vincent Jackson is severly underrated. On the defensive side, the Chargers seemed to hit their stride when former Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera took over mid-season last year. LB Shawne Merriman will be back this year, after missing all but the regular season opener last year. The Chargers could easily go 6-0 in the division, and won't have any problem surpassing last year's 8 wins.
2009 Prediction: 12-4
2. Kansas City Chiefs
2008 Record: 2-14, last place in AFC West
Coach: Todd Haley (1st year Kansas City, 0-0 career)
Schedule: http://www.chiefswarpath.com/news/2009/04/14/chiefs-schedule-set-for-2009/
Key Additions: QB Matt Cassel, DE Tyson Jackson, WR Amani Toomer, LB Mike Vrabel
Key Losses: TE Tony Gonzalez, LB Donnie Edwards, CB Patrick Surtain
2009 Outlook: The Chiefs completely bottomed out last season, finishing 2-14 and leading to the departures of long-time GM Carl Peterson, and head coach Herm Edwards. Peterson was replaced with highly touted former New England Patriot executive, Scott Pioli. Pioli hired hotshot Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator, Todd Haley, and then proceeded to bring over some major parts from his former team. Those parts were QB Matt Cassel, and LB Mike Vrabel. Cassel shocked everyone last year when he took over for Tom Brady and led the Patriots to 11 wins. Plenty of people still doubt Cassel, wondering if he is really a bona fide star QB or a product of the dominant Patriots system. In addition to bringing in some new parts, the new regime got rid of most of the old guard. They said goodbye to longtime TE Tony Gonzalez, and LB Donnie Edwards. The Chiefs have some playmakers on offense, especially if RB Larry Johnson can return to his old form. WR Dwayne Bowe has shown flashes of potentially being a top flight wide receiver, and the addition of veteran Amani Toomer should help the passing game. The defense was a major weakness last season, especially its inability to effectively rush the quarterback. That led to the drafting of DE Tyson Jackson from LSU. I think Haley and Cassel can return the Chiefs to their perennial playoff status, and will make a giant leap of improvement this season.
2009 Prediction: 7-9
3. Oakland Raiders
2008 Record: 5-11, 3rd place AFC West
Coach: Tom Cable (1st year Oakland, 4-8 career)
Schedule: http://www.raiders.com/gameday/schedule.aspx?id=11662
Key Additions: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, FB Lorenzo Neal, QB Jeff Garcia
Key Losses: S Gibril Wilson, WR Ronald Curry, FB Justin Griffith
2009 Outlook: It seems implausible that it was earlier this decade that the Raiders were contenders, and just one win away from being Super Bowl champions. Over the last couple of years they have become a laughingstock, led by their senile owner Al Davis. The drafting of JaMarcus Russell as the number one pick a few years ago is looking like it might be a bust, with the Raiders almost admitting as much, by signing veteran Jeff Garcia. The Raiders also shocked everyone when they took WR Darrius Heyward-Bey in the draft over Michael Crabtree. One addition that might go largely unnoticed but could be huge, was the signing of FB Lorenzo Neal. Neal is one of the best fullbacks to ever play the game, and has blocked for countless 1,000 yard rushers. This season, Neal hopes to do that for RBs Justin Fargas or Darren McFadden. Quietly over the years, the Raiders have actually had a very competent defense. If the defense can maintain its quality play, led by CB Nnamdi Asomugha, they have a chance to remain competitive. Tom Cable takes over as head coach, after going 4-8 last season as the interim coach. Cable is definitely an unproven commodity, but despite their poor record under him, the Raiders definitely showed much more of a fight under Cable last season. I think the Raiders are a team that is about a year or two away, so it will be another forgettable season in Oakland.
2009 Prediction: 5-11
4. Denver Broncos
2008 Record: 8-8, 2nd place AFC West
Coach: Josh McDaniels, 1st year Denver, 0-0 career)
Schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/schedule?team=den
Key Additions: QB Kyle Orton, RB Knowshon Moreno, DE Robert Ayers, S Brian Dawkins, WR Jabar Gaffney
Key Losses: QB Jay Cutler, CB Dre Bly, RB Selvin Young, DE Dewayne Robertson
2009 Outlook: The 2008 Denver Broncos will be remembered as the team that choked away the AFC West and a playoff berth. Sitting at 8-5 with three games remaining, the Broncos had to win just one game to clinch the division. They couldn't do it and concluded the season with an embarrassing loss in a must win game against the Chargers. That loss led to some massive off-season changes, including the surprising firing of long-time head coach, and 2-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan. The Broncos hired Patriots Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels as his replacement, and McDaniels immediately tried to bring over QB Matt Cassel with him. This did not sit well with QB Jay Cutler, who demanded a trade, which the Broncos eventually acquiesced to. Star WR Brandon Marshall also demanded a trade, but the Broncos finally have seemingly drawn a line in the sand, and taken a hard stance with Marshall. To replace Cutler the Broncos traded for former Chicago Bears QB Kyle Orton. Orton was serviceable in Chicago last year, and the hope is he will flourish under the leadership of McDaniels, and with talented WRs in Marshall, and Eddie Royal. RB Knowshon Moreno was the Broncos surprise First Round draft pick, and hopes to continue the Broncos long line of successful running backs. However, the defense was a mess and despite the signing of S Brian Dawkins, will remain a mess. The Broncos will continue to give up 20-30 points a game, and with so many new pieces on the offensive end will take quite a while to gel together. You can't have an off-season with as much upheaval as the Broncos have had and be successful during the season. I think that eventually the Josh McDaniels era can work, but it will be a nightmare this season.
2009 Prediction: 4-12
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