San Diego ran away and hid from the rest of the West last season, ran being the operative term, as they hitched their wagon to LaDanian Tomlinson and his record-smashing season, riding it to 14 wins. Kansas City limped into the playoffs behind the Chargers, Denver lost out on the playoffs, but lost things much more precious in the off-season, and Oakland was black-and-blue instead of black-and-silver. What will happen this year?
From bottom to top, the AFC West in the 2007-08 season:
Oakland Raiders: Good news: They got the number-one overall pick in the draft and used it wisely to pick JaMarcus Russell, the best quarterback available. Bad news: As of this writing, he still isn't signed yet, and recent signee Daunte Culpepper is penciled in as the starter for now, he of the eight starts in two years. Great news: Their third-ranked defense is still there. Flip side of that news: It was last year, too, on a 2-14 team, which now, in addition to its quarterback problems, has injury problems with new running back Dominic Rhodes. Not a good time to be a Raider, all in all. Prediction: 4-12, fourth place
Kansas City Chiefs: It's Offense by Subtraction time in Kansas City. They let Trent Green and Dante Hall go, and will try to see how far they get with Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, apparently. It's hard to see Brodie Croyle or Damon Huard as long-term solutions, and even short-term at quarterback, they're iffy at best. So, it's up to the defense, right? The defense was middle of the road last year (16th last year, exactly middle) and can't carry this team far. It'll be tough times at Arrowhead this year. Prediction: 6-10, third place
Denver Broncos: To say that the Broncos had the off-season from hell is putting it mildly. Hours after the last game of the season, CB Darrent Williams was shot and killed outside a Denver nightclub. Then backup RB Damien Nash died from an unknown heart condition at a charity basketball event. It has to be a great relief to get back to the business of football. Offensively, they lost RB Tatum Bell to Detroit, but since this is the patented 1,000-Yard Season Machine, they'll just plug Travis Henry in and keep chugging. QB Jay Cutler is the man full-time now, and he still has WR Rod Smith to throw to, but only time will tell is this is a good thing or not. Defensively, a solid defense gets better with the additions of CB Dre Bly and DT Sam Adams to a unit that already had Champ Bailey and John Lynch. It's, thankfully, back to business, and business is good. Prediction: 10-6, second place
San Diego Chargers: However, business is great in San Diego, and it just starts, although it's a big start, with Tomlinson, who will be his consistently awesome self yet again. QB Phillip Rivers, in his first full season at the controls, showed just why the Chargers were quick to send Eli Manning away for him, and he should only get better from here. TE Antonio Gates is a great target, and gives Rivers possession catches, deep catches, whatever is needed. And the defense, led by Shawne Merriman is great against the rush (seventh in the league), a great thing when facing Johnson, Rhodes (when healthy), and (insert Denver 1,000-yard rusher here). Overall, too much team for the West to handle. Prediction: 11-5, division champion.
San Diego will be in a dog fight with Denver the whole season, but it'll be good for them to be in a long battle before the war of the postseason begins in January.
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