Originally Posted by R8RFAN:
AFC West is capable of being won by any of the teams... I will pencil in KC right now because they are the defending west champs...
Barring injury any team can win it but I do believe all teams will be much better against teams outside the west. Winning the west is great but the Raiders actually beat every team in the west and still didn't make the playoffs when Hue Daddy was coach. Who has the hardest schedule next year?
Hardest schedule: anyone who plays the Chiefs twice... [Reply]
They're in the same spot they've been for the past 1,949 days: on top of the AFC West, looking down at everyone else.
Some teams improved more during the early rounds of free agency. No AFC West team improved more on draft day, and none will improve more between now and the season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan:
Much of this list won't age well. Bengals first place schedule and a division where everyone plays everyone tough means they are least likely to merit this place by the end of the year. Bills are going to get ball-licked until they finally make the Super Bowl. I'm fine with them being at the top. 49ers are an odd choice in that spot...Trey Lance is far less of a known commodity than Jimmy G. - who isn't great, but knows how to manage a game. Power rankings...blegh.
It is being overlooked how inconsistent Buffalo was during the regular season last year, including Josh Allen... against a weak schedule.
They lost to Jacksonville, and Josh Allen looked like shit. They struggled to beat a bad Atlanta team at home towards the end of the season and Josh Allen looked like shit. And of course they lost at home to a Faketriots team that only passed the ball three times.
Yes Josh Allen was great in their two playoff games (one of which was a loss)... but can they sustain that over the duration of an entire season against a tougher schedule in 2022? [Reply]
Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88:
It is being overlooked how inconsistent Buffalo was during the regular season last year, including Josh Allen... against a weak schedule.
They lost to Jacksonville, and Josh Allen looked like shit. They struggled to beat a bad Atlanta team at home towards the end of the season and Josh Allen looked like shit. And of course they lost at home to a Faketriots team that only passed the ball three times.
Yes Josh Allen was great in their two playoff games (one of which was a loss)... but can they sustain that over the duration of an entire season against a tougher schedule in 2022?
Chiefs have a few breakdowns in the secondary, yet still win the game, and the takeaway is that the Bills are the greatest team of all time.
Now if we're talking odds to get the 1 seed, I'd put them at the top because they'll have a much easier schedule. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1: AFC West: Power Ranking the Four Teams After a Wild NFL Offseason
by Matthew Wadleigh
The NFL offseason hasn’t taken a break since the Super Bowl ended. Aaron Rodgers returned to the Green Bay Packers, Tom Brady retired, then unretired, Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson got traded, and the list continues. One of the most active divisions in free agency and the trade market was the AFC West.
The Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos all have a ton of new faces, and some watched familiar faces leave for new opportunities. The ripple effect in the AFC West should make for an exciting race in 2022 and beyond after years of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs entering as the favorites.
Yet, here we are, just a couple of weeks away from the NFL Draft, and the entire landscape of the division has shifted dramatically. Let’s rank the AFC West after a flurry of acquisitions by every one of the four teams.
1. Los Angeles Chargers
Key Additions: Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gerald Everett, Austin Johnson
Key Departures: Uchenna Nwosu, Justin Jones, Kyzir White
The Chargers have been one of the biggest winners in the entire NFL this offseason. They brought back wide receiver Mike Williams on a three-year deal and engineered a brilliant trade for Chicago Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack.
In doing so, they have formed one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL with Mack and Joey Bosa. If that weren’t enough, they landed the best cornerback on the market in J.C. Jackson and added depth on the defensive line with the other two.
Gerald Everett is a massive upgrade over aging veteran Jared Cook, and the Chargers still have the 17th overall pick in the draft to add another key piece.
To sum it up, the Chargers brought in a ton of weapons and addressed their biggest needs on defense while keeping Williams in town and adding a quality tight end. On top of that, they haven’t lost much this offseason, and Mack essentially replaces Nwosu on the edge.
The Chargers missed the playoffs last year, thanks to the Raiders edging them out in a thrilling Week 18 game. But make no mistake, this team is going all-in for a Super Bowl run, and they are expected to be the top contender in the AFC West and can even make a run for the entire conference if things go their way.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Key Additions: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ronald Jones, Justin Reid, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Kansas City Chiefs can quickly go from the AFC West division winners in 2021 to the bottom of the division in 2022. That is how topsy-turvy this division is.
The loss of Tyreek Hill is a massive one for them, and they also saw wide receivers Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle leave. But, they brought in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in a revamped WR room, so there is some hope.
The Chiefs also let Tyrann Mathieu walk, and he remains unsigned as of March 31. Justin Reid is an excellent replacement for Mathieu, but losing him, Hill, and Charvarius Ward in the same offseason are tough losses.
Nonetheless, it is hard to count against a team that still has Mahomes and Travis Kelce, not to mention a defense that was much improved down the stretch in 2021. Until Mahomes slows down, the Chiefs will be competitive, but the loss of Hill is more than enough to kick them out of the top spot of this division — and it could derail them altogether.
3. Denver Broncos
Key Additions: Russell Wilson, Randy Gregory, Alex Singleton
Key Departures: Noah Fant, Shelby Harris
The Broncos missed out on Rodgers but wasted no time acquiring Wilson in a massive trade with the Seattle Seahawks. For years, Denver has been playing quarterback hot potato, and they finally solved those issues by landing Wilson.
That is a massive get, and bringing on Randy Gregory is a significant addition for their defense, even if the contract is a little questionable.
Those moves are enormous bonuses, but the Broncos still have question marks. How will Wilson fit in with first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett? How will the wide receivers in Denver perform?
All three of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick have been on and off during their NFL careers, although a large part of that could be due to the quarterback limbo in the Mile High City.
It is also worth noting that Wilson is coming off a hand injury that bothered him a ton in his final year with the Seahawks, although he should be ready to roll with new threads for the first time in his career.
The Broncos are making the playoffs, assuming everything goes as planned, and could be on top of this division.
The Raiders might be a surprise at this spot on the rankings. But, let’s explain.
The blockbuster trade of Davante Adams was a stunning move for the entire NFL, and the reunion of Derek Carr and Adams is a welcomed sight. The former Fresno State pairing finally gets to play together in the NFL and hopefully for a long time, if Carr and the Raiders can ink a long-term deal.
The addition of Chandler Jones is a big one, and pairing him with Maxx Crosby is a dangerous duo. Rock Ya-Sin was an excellent trade acquisition, and Brandon Bolden is a solid change of pace back familiar with Josh McDaniels’ system.
However, the Raiders have failed to address their most pressing need: the offensive line.
The Raiders don’t have a first or second-round pick due to the Adams trade, and there is no question they need help upfront to protect Carr. That is a significant concern, and the secondary in Las Vegas is also somewhat of a problem. There is no doubt the offense got better with the addition of Adams, but the patchy offensive line might be a troubling factor in Sin City.
On the other hand, the Raiders have a path to another playoff trip, and who knows, this looks more and more like three teams make the playoffs from the AFC West.
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Let's be serious. How many years in a row is that for the Chargers? [Reply]
Originally Posted by ThyKingdomCome15:
Let's be serious. How many years in a row is that for the Chargers?
Chargers are the off-season GOAT
K Mack played 6 games last year then went out with a foot injury and had foot surgery I don't know the status of his foot how well he will do but I've heard from Bears fans that they were happy to get rid of him for picks.
I think our offensive line is going be better than any defensive line and will dominate the trenches so our offense is going be way better and we got some good talent at WR that can step it up and move the ball around we will be set.
Our defense pretty much countered anything the other teams upgraded at granted a bunch of rookies but they will be better than what we had before except the loss of Ward. We've won games without Ttyreek he wasn't the team and the team isn't one player except unless that player is Patrick Mahomes . [Reply]
Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88:
It is being overlooked how inconsistent Buffalo was during the regular season last year, including Josh Allen... against a weak schedule.
They lost to Jacksonville, and Josh Allen looked like shit. They struggled to beat a bad Atlanta team at home towards the end of the season and Josh Allen looked like shit. And of course they lost at home to a Faketriots team that only passed the ball three times.
Yes Josh Allen was great in their two playoff games (one of which was a loss)... but can they sustain that over the duration of an entire season against a tougher schedule in 2022?
THANK YOU. Buffalo is very good, but the national media completely disregards any weakness that they show.
They were the 4 seed in 2020 and got blown out by KC in the AFC title game after being gifted wins in the first two rounds. They managed only the 3 seed in 2021 despite one of the easiest schedules in football, and really only managed the 3 seed after rattling off wins against the Jets, etc. after starting 7-5.
They’re offensive ceiling is high, but they’re very erratic and won most of their games last year behind a defense shutting down bad offenses (they were average against good offenses). Don’t think their defense is that spectacularly talented, though solid. Still feel like they’re a level below KC, but the national media narrative has spiraled so far in the positive direction that many have come to believe they’re the greatest team ever assembled. Would not be surprised if they don’t win a super bowl during this window.
We stand atop the division, until the crown is taken. Barring a significant injury to 15, or a rash of injuries across the board, KC will handily win the west again and host a home playoff game.
I understand a tiny bit of trepidation, given that KC has been no less than contending for the AFC title for four straight years, and battered fan syndrome creeps in and whispers " You can't possibly keep this up. You had your window. 4 straight AFC title games and you got 1 Lombardi out of it. Despair!! Despair ye dregs of Chiefs Kingdom, for your return to mediocrity is at hand!!"
With the departure of Hill, the battered fan syndrome voice is ruling out logic and reason entirely for some. (See Chiefsplanet user TEX for example)
It's like they are completely unaware that the off-season darling for the superbowl every season, the LA Chargers, are still coached by Brandon Staley. A man who willingly handicaps himself by banning his kickers from playing in the game. A man who sees a team clearly playing for a tie that would send both teams to the playoffs, jumps in and fistfucks himself, taking a timeout and inspiring the Raiders to find their tiny little ballsacs, and go ahead and win the game.
Broncos bring in a washed up Russel Wilson, while at the same time firing the guy thar made the most of the strength of the team, the defense.
The Raiders have Josh McDaniels. Is there a bigger joke running? This guy sucked when he coached Denver, and bitched out of an opportunity to coach the Colts after agreeing to the job.
I'm sorry, but anyone looking at the AFC west and placing any team besides Mahomes and the Chiefs at the top has some personal bias against KC, has serious personal issues (again, see TEX), or is just a good old fashioned butt fucking moron. [Reply]
