1. Kansas City Chiefs: They have run the AFC West each season since 2016. Andy Reid is still one of the best head coaches in the league. 2021 was a different year for them because teams figured out how to limit their offense. Make them earn everything underneath. I didn’t give up on them too much because I knew they’d catch fire. The Chiefs won the division again and were the two seed in the AFC Playoffs. They made the AFC Title game for the fourth consecutive season where they fell short to the Bengals. Their offense will be a tad bit different this year. They traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for picks. What will the defense do in 2022? I feel they play defense in spurts. They’d be scarier if they were more consistent on that side of the ball.
2. Las Vegas Raiders: I’ve never seen a team endure all they did and still do their best to look forward. First came the Jon Gruden incident. Next came the Henry Ruggs situation. Those events placed a dark cloud over the Raiders. The one thing I noticed was the leadership of Derek Carr. He put this team on his back and they went as far as he took them. Las Vegas got to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They made one of the many splashes this off-season when they acquired Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers. On defense, they added Chandler Jones. Josh McDaniels is getting another chance to coach again. I can’t wait to watch how this all pans out.
3. Los Angeles Chargers: I had expectations for them in 2021. Justin Herbert entered as the full-time starting quarterback, and they also had a new head coach in Brandon Staley. They were on top of this division and cooled down considerably. I like this LA offense. They have weapons that can stretch the field vertically. The defense is going to be fun to watch in 2022. The Chargers acquired Khalil Mack from the Bears and signed Sebastian Joseph-Day and J.C. Jackson to free-agent contracts. I think I can apply the playoffs or bust line with them this year. They were active this off-season and they’ll put it all together this season.
4. Denver Broncos: Another year of them missing the playoffs. Here’s my thing. Everything is there for them. The running game, the receivers, and the defense. The quarterback has been the true liability of this team. Since Peyton retired, they’ve flipped through quarterbacks. The Broncos won’t have to worry about that this season. Russell Wilson is a Bronco and gives them a veteran who’s played in big games and he brings leadership. Something they haven’t had since the days of 18. Can the offensive line consistently protect Russell and will the pass rush be able to apply pressure on the quarterback consistently?
2022 Prediction
1. Chiefs (11-6)
2. Chargers (11-6)
3. Broncos (10-7)
4. Raiders (8-9)
I’ve been back and forth with this division. I could make a case for each team winning it. I will still stick with the team with the best coach and player. That’s the Kansas City Chiefs. Everyone has reloaded in this division without question. However, the other three teams don’t have a particular player, Patrick Mahomes. He is the ultimate difference-maker. Not many are sure what to expect from this Kansas City offense. We know Travis Kelce will get his looks, but who’s next behind him? That’s what the Chiefs will use to their advantage. They’ll find a way to keep teams guessing.
