Not one team in the AFC West finished with a losing record last season, and the conference’s Super Bowl representative came from the division.
The same will happen this season, but the Oakland Raiders are a year older and the other teams in the division are getting closer and closer to dethroning them.
But it’s not going to happen this year.
1. Oakland Raiders
Even though quarterback Rich Gannon seems to be 100 years old, throwing 5- to 10-yard passes on most plays helps your arm. Hell, I think I can make those throws, but who knows.
Charlie Garner is still one of the most fun running backs to watch in the league, and is the perfect fit for the West Coast offense.
Thank God the Raiders have Jerry Porter to relieve the geriatrics known as Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
Rice played extremely well last year and will be split out as one of the top two receivers along with Porter.
Brown will take the slot and Doug Jolley will start at tight end, with rookie Teyo Johnson set to see significant time.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders have the best defensive player in the league, and guess what…he is healthy.
Charles Woodson is back after two injury-plagued seasons, and on the opposite side sits Phillip Buchanon.
Buchanon was out for most of last year with an injury, but is now back. He’s healthy and is a better second corner than the Raiders have had for a while.
I’m sorry, but an old Eric Allen and Tory James just didn’t cut it. The Raiders needed a little Hurricane blood and they got it.
Rod Woodson is also old as hell, but can still get the job done. At strong safety, Derrick Gibson will probably beat out Anthony Dorsett.
The Raiders have most of their players back from last season and will not only win the division, but will take the conference as well.
Predicted Finish: 12-4
2. Denver Broncos
This conference is amazingly difficult to place teams after the Raiders because justifying any of the three teams to finish second is easy. This year it will be the Broncos.
Clinton Portis is a stud running back and he will carry the Broncos this season, but Denver will still not overtake the Raiders this season.
Portis is more talented than Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson were, and possibly just as talented as Terrell Davis was back when his knee was still alive.
The Broncos have always had good production from the running game, but the passing game will be the true question, with the era of a new quarterback ready to begin.
Jake Plummer comes in from Arizona, and I don’t think that it was a very bad move, since everyone hated Brian Griese anyway.
The defense is solid and led by linebackers Ian Gold, Al Wilson and John Mobley.
The corners are really suspect since Deltha O’Neal gives up twice as many touchdowns as passes he intercepts, but hey-it’s good for fantasy, so I love it.
The Broncos have a solid team, but once again will get smoked by the Raiders and remain in second place.
Predicted Finish: 10-6
3. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers finally got a go-to receiver, even though it seems he got some growth hormones to turn him into a tank. David Boston was injured for most of last year, and has been bogged down by some injuries in camp, but should be ready to go by the start of the season.
The problem with Boston is that nobody really knows if he can last with the weight he has on his body and that fact he runs a 4.2 second 40-yard dash.
Who knows, but the one thing that is certain is the production out of LaDainian Tomlinson.
His play will push the Chargers ahead of the Chiefs in the division.
Drew Brees is a solid quarterback and his second year as a starter should be more consistent than his performance last year, but he’s still not a great quarterback.
As for the rest of the offense, Reche Caldwell is a solid receiver-and to all the Tim Dwight lovers out there, get a life.
Dwight is good, but quit it with the love affair.
Without Junior Seau, the defense doesn’t seem the same, but Donnie Edwards is a very good and under appreciated linebacker. The rest of the defense is average, and in the end the team will barely finish behind the Broncos.
Predicted Finish: 9-7
4. Kansas City Chiefs
Many people are getting a little too happy when they talk about the Chiefs. Some even dare to say they will reach the Super Bowl.
Blasphemous bastards.
The Chiefs have a really dynamic offense, but they are still the Chiefs.
When your top receiver is a tight end, you have problems. I don’t care how good Tony Gonzalez is, but when Johnnie Morton and Eddie Kennison are leading your wideouts, you are in trouble.
Priest Holmes had a brilliant season and will continue to do well if his hip doesn’t fall off.
Trent Green is a solid quarterback and will put up good numbers, but the Chiefs’ main problem is not on offense.
The defense makes me want to throw up-and I haven’t thrown up in 11 years.
Teams will pass all over the secondary, which is led by cornerbacks Eric Warfield and William Bartee. Yeah-I told you the defense sucked.
Predicted Finish: 8-8