The AFC West is intriguing. It features the reigning AFC Champions, a top-10 quarterback, and a charismatic head coach who is a fan-favorite. And that’s just the Kansas City Chiefs. In this article, I’ll discuss what to look for in all AFC West teams and players to watch this upcoming season. We start in KC, where the Chiefs are looking to make their fourth consecutive AFC Championship and win their second Super Bowl in three seasons.
AFC West is Chiefs to Lose
The Chiefs are a great team. Everything about the team is set up for success. They have the best quarterback in the NFL. Their head coach is certainly in the conversation for best in the league. Their collection of weapons on offense is tough to beat. The tougher question is how does anyone beat Kansas City this season.
To answer that question, we have to go back to the Super Bowl. Knowing the Chiefs’ o-line wasn’t completely healthy, the Buccaneers pressured the hell out of KC. As a result, Kansas City added Orlando Brown Jr and Joe Thuney (among others) to protect Patrick Mahomes. If the Chiefs weren’t serious about protecting the best quarterback in football before, they are now.
A player I think you should watch on the Chiefs is safety Daniel Sorensen. Undrafted from BYU, Sorensen is entering this season as Kansas City’s starting free safety. He’s started in at least 15 or more games every season except for two since joining the league in 2014. If the 31-year-old from Riverside, California has a strong season, along with the rest of this defense, KC will be a lock in the AFC once again.
Las Vegas Looking for First AFC West Title Since 2002
The Raiders are one of the most mind-boggling teams in the NFL. Last season, Las Vegas went 8-8, including impressive wins over the Saints, Chiefs, and Browns. However, they only won two of their last seven games down the stretch and were eliminated from the playoffs in Week 16. With GM Mike Mayock already saying that the Raiders ‘need to be a playoff team’, there is a lot on the line for a team that has made the playoffs once since 2002.
One of the biggest things holding the Raiders back is their defense. Last season, over half (50.3%) of opponents’ drives ended in an offensive score. That was the worst mark in football and is surely going to improve this season. This team has too many quality players on the back end, including free agent signings Yannick Ngakoue, Casey Heyward, and K.J Wright, to be that bad again. Also, don’t forget about their new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.
Of course, the player to watch on the Raiders is quarterback Derek Carr. If the defense can help Las Vegas win another game or two this season, that puts the team in a good spot to make the playoffs should Carr perform well. This is his fourth season with Gruden as his head coach and if he has another strong season, he could be in line for a huge extension. Lots to play for if you’re Carr, Gruden, and the entire Raiders organization.
Chargers Could Surprise Many People
The Chargers is the biggest boom or bust team in my books. How you feel about them this season is likely going to depend on your feelings for Justin Herbert. The 23-year-old from Eugene, Oregon is coming off a sensational rookie season, in which he threw for over 4,300 yards and 31 touchdowns. He has the same odds to win the MVP as Russell Wilson according to Fanduel Sportsbook and it’s not hard to see why.
Herbert is better than I thought coming out of Oregon. He has elite throwing power and is smart when throwing the ball to put in a good spot for his receivers. He’s also mobile, which could see when he was trying to keep plays alive or running outside on read-option keepers. There is a chance he regresses with a new offensive coordinator and head coach this season, but he hit another level and throw for over 5,000 yards. That’s what makes Herbert and the Chargers so exciting.
My player to watch on the Chargers this season is center Corey Linsley. He signed with LA in the offseason after spending the last seven seasons with the Packers and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2020. With the Chargers, Linsley is going to help make life easier for Herbert at the line of scrimmage with protections, calling out linebackers, and moving the line in the run game. This is an addition that should pay dividends so long as he is healthy.
Broncos Betting on Defense to Win AFC West
Denver is another team hoping to be a wild-card team this season. They have not had a winning record since 2016 and are hoping to put it together in year three of Vic Fangio as the head coach. While I don’t believe they have the highest ceiling, they could be amazing defensively.
I like some of the pieces the Broncos have on defense. Their secondary and linebacker groups look solid, especially with the additions of Kyle Fuller and Patrick Surtain II at cornerback. If this team can stay healthy, especially the linebackers, they can be nasty defensively. My biggest concern is at defensive lineman. Shelby Harris is 30 years old and the best player in what looks like the weakest unit on this team.
I am going to be watching two positions on the Broncos this season. Those spots include quarterback and right tackle. Teddy Bridgewater won the starting gig at quarterback out of camp for Denver, and while I like him as a player, I won’t be shocked if Fangio turns to Drew Lock to start should Bridgewater struggle at all. Likewise, the right tackle will factor into the quarterback succeeding and that’s still unknown. Denver is hoping Bobby Massie, formerly of the Bears, is the man to take the spot but he hasn’t secured it yet. Look for Calvin Anderson to start Week 1 but it’s an important position that is still unsolved in the Mile High City.
Conclusion
The Chiefs will be tough to compete with once again. I believe the Chargers have the highest ceiling of the teams remaining. For the Raiders, they need to step up defensively before I can start taking them seriously as contenders. Likewise, I want Denver to become consistent on offense, mostly at quarterback, before I go all-in on them. It’s going to be another great season of AFC West action.