1. Kansas City Chiefs: They’ve stamped this division. Since 2016, they have dominated the AFC West. Last season, they finished with the best record in football at 14-2. However, there were times when I wasn’t impressed with how they looked. The Chiefs have more than enough firepower to put teams away early. I found them allowing teams to hang around far too often. They clinched the top seed in the AFC and made it to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year. The big stage wasn’t too kind to them. That was by far the worst I’ve seen Patrick Mahomes look. This off-season, they made it a priority to bolster up that offensive line. You signed Patrick to that large contract. Keep him protected at all times.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: I can’t figure them out. The talent is there for sure. Their offense was great in 2020. In fact, they were so good that they ranked top ten in both points and yards. What hurt them was their defense which allowed close to 30 points per game, the third most in the league. Henry Ruggs has a chance to be a special receiver in this league. When Josh Jacobs is healthy, he’s regarded as one of the best backs in the NFL. Until the defense can show some consistency, they will hold the Raiders back.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: There’s a reason for optimism. When Justin Herbert got his chance to start, he never looked back. In fact, he ended up setting a rookie record for touchdown passes thrown in a season with 31. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Chargers ended up firing Anthony Lynn after the 2020 season. In January, the Chargers tabbed Brandon Staley, the former defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams to be their next head coach. One boost they will receive is the return of Derwin James. It’s been a challenge for him to stay healthy. When he is 100 percent, he’s one of the best all-around safeties in the league. This will be the first full season Justin Herbert will enter as the starting quarterback.
4. Denver Broncos: Everything else is there for them. The running game, the wide receivers and the defense is still strong. The only thing that’s been inconsistent for them is the quarterback position. This isn’t meant to be disrespectful, but Drew Lock clearly isn’t the answer for them moving forward. Ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2016, it’s been a rotating carousel of quarterbacks for the Broncos. Vic Fangio enters his second year as head coach and he will get Von Miller back. He missed last season with an ankle injury. I loved the Broncos draft pick of Patrick Surtain II. He fell right into the hands of Denver in the Spring. Until they can get some consistency at quarterback, I don’t see them doing much of anything.
2021 Predictions
1. Chiefs (15-2)
2. Chargers (8-9)
3. Raiders (7-10)
4. Broncos (4-13)
This shouldn’t shock anyone. The Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC West once again. In the off-season, the offensive line was a priority and they improved it. The Chiefs signed Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. Before the draft, they acquired Orlando Brown Jr from the Baltimore Ravens. They clearly don’t want to see the quarterback running for his life as they did in the Super Bowl. I’m not worried about the offense at all. If the defense can show flashes of its 2019 run, this is a scary team to watch for.
