12 Jun 2019
This division has not produced a team to win a playoff game in three years. No other team outside of Denver has reached a Super Bowl since 2002, when Jon Gruden took the Raiders to the big game and lost to Tampa Bay. Gruden has returned from the broadcasting booth to lead the Silver and Black, and that should energise the division. We look at each of the four teams ahead of the new NFL season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
With Alex Smith shipped to the Washington Redskins after a five-year run of 50 wins, 26 losses and four playoff appearances, the new era begins with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.
How much they miss Smith is a big question. The veteran completed 65 percent of his passes, threw 102 touchdowns and just 33 interceptions. That is decent production.
Mahomes will have to live with a similar supporting cast, as the Chiefs gave up a lot to draft him in 2017 and they did not have a first-round draft pick as a result this year.
Last year, the Chiefs opened with a 5-0 record, but injuries and inconsistent offensive line play saw them drop to 10-6 and they lost their home wildcard clash with Tennessee, despite holding a 21-3 half-time lead.
GM Jon Dorsey was fired and Brett Veach assumed control in July. Gone also are defensive stalwarts Marcus Peters, Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, and the Chiefs could have as many as seven new starters when they travel to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
The offense remains primarily intact, save for the addition of swift receiver Sammy Watkins, who should have a big year, along with tight end Travis Kelce (pictured above), and Tyreek Hill. That trio should strike fear into any defense.
Depth at the position is a minor concern, but Chris Conley, who has looked good in recovery from a torn Achilles last October, is one of the most under-appreciated receivers in the NFL. It was noticeable that the passing game suffered when he was injured. Now in his fourth season, the former Georgia man should soon be ready to break out.
The playoff loss hurt and the hierarchy felt that the defense lacked intensity last year, so they have stockpiled defenders with speed and ferocity, and the addition of cornerback Kendall Fuller, who arrives as part of the Smith trade, was smart business. The defense may take a little while to gel and it will remain a work in progress, but the loaded offense should ensure plenty of shoot-outs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The running back position is a major strength, with Kereem Hunt bursting onto the scene with a league-leading 1,327 rushing yards last term. He also caught 53 passes out of the backfield, and the west coast offense should ensure he remains a focal point. Veteran Charcandrick West is also under-valued, and the addition of free agents Damien Williams and Kerwynn Williams provide depth and versatility.
The Genting Casino odds of 13/5 to win the AFC West suggest that the Chiefs may not repeat their division title. That is an understandable stance, given they have a 22-year-old, second-year quarterback and an unproven defense. They also have a tough start, with trips to Pittsburgh, Denver and New England, plus home games with improving San Francisco and Jacksonville in the opening few weeks of the season. Do not expect another 5-0 start, but they could be the team to beat again in this division.
DENVER BRONCOS
Since Peyton Manning’s triumphant retirement following the 2015 Super Bowl victory, the Broncos have listed from a 9-7 season in 2016, to 5-11 last year. A defense that was supposed to be strong enough to overcome the struggles at quarterback finally caved in.
GM John Elway lost his patience with developing a young passer and returned to the veteran QB market, this summer bringing in ex-Viking Case Keenum for two years and $36million.
This means Paxton Lynch will have to stand down and learn, which may be a wise move.
The good news from a trend perspective is that the last time the Broncos had back-to-back losing seasons, no player currently in the NFL has been born (1972).
High expectations mean that head coach Vance Joseph may be on the hot-seat and is unlikely to survive should the Broncos fail again.
The veterans who remain from Super Bowl 50 will be out to show that last season was an aberration. The Broncos drafted Bradley Chubb to bookend Von Miller in a powerful linebacking group that will get to opposing quarterbacks often. Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett add tremendous depth to the unit and Miller can be expected to return to form, so he may well be in the running for most NFL sacks again.
One key loss is Aqib Talib, which means the Broncos are unlikely to go three-deep at the cornerback position as they did in the past four seasons. This is a problem they may struggle with early on.
On the other side of the ball, the Broncos need to do a better job of protecting the passer, since only three teams allowed more sacks last season.
Special teams needed an overhaul as well, and new coordinator Tom McMahon should ensure this group is better prepared. Ex-Raider Marquette King is the new punter and should give the defense better field position.
Denver’s Genting Casino odds of 10/3 to win the division will tempt a few, since they have the advantage of the rarified air in Colorado and stability with a veteran passer, allied to significant changes within the other teams in the division.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Jon Gruden returns after a decade in the broadcasting booth to lead a Raiders team with a frustrated fan-base. The Raiders will relocate to Las Vegas in 2020, so it is imperative that the on-field product remains competitive in order to keep bums on seats.
Gruden’s offseason was largely spent on supporting quarterback Derek Carr with more help. Carr, who suffered a broken leg in 2016 and a traverse process facture in 2017, will have veteran receivers Jordy Nelson, Ryan Switzer and Martavis Bryant to throw to, along with returning No1 wideout Amari Cooper.
The Raiders also drafted his left tackle of the future in Kolton Miller from UCLA.
With one winning season in 14 years, the fan-base hopes that this trend will change this year, despite the doubters and critics saying football has moved on since Gruden was on the sidelines.
Bringing in Paul Guenther from Cincinnati to run the defense was a good start and the personnel for the 4-3 system he runs is already in place.
Carr is an elite passer and his running game has been boosted by the arrival of Doug Martin, who should be a nice foil for Marshawn Lynch, but there are major questions on the other side of the ball with Khalil Mack being traded to the Chicago Bears. It was not as if the Silver and Black had much of a pass-rush with him, ranking 24th in sacks last year.
Though bringing in Rashaan Melvin at cornerback is a great move, he and fellow newbie Gareon Conley will have their work cut out if opposing QBs are allowed all kinds of time to throw downfield.
The schedule is not a tough one, and Gruden’s crew may well have a winning record by the time they head to London to face Seattle on October 14.
Yet their Genting Casino odds of 5/1 to win the division make them the outsiders of the quartet.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
There is a lot of hype surrounding the Chargers heading into the new season. Not that fans in Los Angeles seem to care – last season the average attendance was just 25,335 at their soccer stadium, the intimate StubHub Centre, which they moved into after relocating from San Diego.
They will share the Rams’ new $5 billion stadium in 2020, but must do with what they have for the time being.
Elite QB Philip Rivers, 36, begins his 15th NFL season with a 4-5 record in the post-season and has been to the AFC Championship only once.
However, he may have his best supporting cast in 10 years, so it could be Super Bowl or bust. He has passed for nearly 9,000 yards and tossed 61 touchdowns in the last two years, so shows no signs of slowing sown.
Melvin Gordon will look to build on his 1.000 rushing season and his 1,581 yards from scrimmage were the 10th best in franchise history.
The arrival of former Miami centre Mike Pouncey should anchor the offensive line and help the running game, although questions remain as to whether he will remain healthy following hip surgery. If Russell Okung’s second season protecting Rivers’ blind side is as good as the first, when the offensive line as a whole allowed only 18 sacks, the Chargers should contend for the division title. Their Genting Casino odds of 13/10 suggest they are the ones to beat.
The addition of safety Derwin James in the draft to a loaded secondary may pay off for a defense that was third in points allowed. He teams up with Safety Jaheel Addae, who is one of the finest players for many years at his position.
Pressure up front will again be provided by the elite pass-rusher Joey Bosa, who has 23 sacks in 28 games after becoming the fastest to reach 19 sacks in 20 outings.
Yet their inability to stop the run was a major problem last year and is again a concern.
However, the linebacking corps has been boosted with the selection of All American Uchenna Nwosu in the second round. He had 12 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss in his final two seasons at Southern Cal.
All things considered, Anthony Lynn’s group are worthy contenders for the AFC West and their Super Bowl odds of 18/1 are half that of last year. If they get to the playoffs, not too many teams will be happy to see Rivers and company.
Watch live NFL action in your local Genting casino. Find your nearest casino here.
