AFC West: A pass-happy group of original AFL teams in the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS
Coach: Nathaniel Hackett (first season as an NFL head coach).
Last season: 7-10 (fourth in the division).
Key additions: QB Russell Wilson, OT Billy Turner, OLB Randy Gregory, ILB Alex Singleton, NT D.J. Jones.
Key subtractions: QB Teddy Bridgewater, DE Shelby Harris, TE Noah Fant, OT Bobby Massie, CB Kyle Fuller, LB A.J. Johnson.
Looking ahead: After 10 seasons as King of Coffee Country, Russell Wilson gave up his throne and agreed to a trade to Mile High lands. Denver fans hope the deal ends their team’s recent run of losing seasons and perpetual quarterback search. Denver is also where division competition demands a quarterback put up points by the bushel because his counterpart likely will do so. But during the past two offseasons, the Broncos have been constructing the kind of defense you need to win in this division. Not quite Orange Crush or Von Miller era yet, but don’t sleep on them too long.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Coach: Andy Reid (10th season in Kansas City, 103-42 regular season, 9-7 playoffs).
Last season: 12-5 (first in the division), lost the AFC Championship Game to Cincinnati.
Key additions: S Justin Reid, DE Geroge Karlaftis, CB Trent McDuffie, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Key subtractions: WR Tyreek Hill, S Tyrann Mathieu, DT Jarran Reed, LB Anthony Hitchens, CB Charvarius Ward, WR Demarcus Robinson.
Looking ahead: Lest you think Tyreek Hill took all the offense’s zoom with him to Miami, free agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling averaged 17.5 yards per reception in Green Bay last year catching passes from another mobile quarterback with a magical arm. Sometimes, Mahomes reaches for magic when mundane will do (AFC Championship Game). With a pass rush that got worse (29th in sacks) and Denver trading for Russell Wilson to make this the league’s most quarterback-thick division, K.C. spent five of their first six draft picks on defense.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Coach: Josh McDaniels (first season with the Raiders, 11-17 as an NFL head coach).
Last season: 9-8 (second in the division), lost in the AFC Wild Card round to Cincinnati.
Key additions: WR Devante Adams, OLB Chandler Jones, DT Bilal Nichols, CB Rock Ya-Sin.
Key subtractions: CB Casey Hayward, DE Yannick Ngakoue, DT Quinton Jefferson, CB Brandon Facyson, LB Cory Littleton, WR Zay Jones.
Looking ahead: Commitment to Excellence? More like Devoted to Drama. As when Al Davis was alive, the Raiders thrived in chaos and controversy. In the turbulence of Jon Gruden getting hurled out the door, QB Derek Carr somehow led this team to a fourth consecutive season of improvement and a playoff spot. Now, they get longtime New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Older and Wiser version compared to the 2009-10 wine-before-his-time Denver version. McDaniels knows what to do with guys such as Carr and Devante Adams.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Coach: Brandon Staley (second season with the Chargers, 9-8 regular season record).
Last season: 9-8 (third in the division).
Key additions: LB Khalil Mack, DT Austin Johnson, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, TE Gerald Everett, CB J.C. Jackson
Key subtractions: TE Jared Cook, RB Justin Jackson, LB Uchenna Nwosu, G Michael Schofield, ILB Kyzir White, CB Chris Harris, NT Linval Joseph.
Looking ahead: As a franchise, the Chargers careen between being depressingly bad and just good enough to shatter hearts. They still gave up too many points to get full value from a dynamic offense. QB Justin Herbert threw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns, but the defense allowed 27 points per game and Formerly San Diego lost a loser-stays-home season finale to the Raiders, 35-32. Trading for Khalil Mack is good for this division, but shopping carts give more resistance than Lesser L.A.’s run defense. Signing Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day should address that.
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 5:15 AM with the headline "AFC West: A pass-happy group of original AFL teams in the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers."
