Fearless Prognostications for 2010 – The AFC West

The AFC West had typically been the most exciting, as well as the most competitive Division in rootball for decades. Some of the most storied teams in the annals of the NFC have arisen out of this Division, including the Raiders of the George Blanda era, Hank Stram’s Chiefs, The Denver Crush, The Shanahan/Elway Dynasty, Al Davis’ series of Rogue Teams, and Larry Coryell’s Lightnin’ Bolts, the progenitors of the Greatest Team on Turf. But the last five years have been rather moribund, with the Chargers taking the title in ho-hum fashion. And unfortunately, that is the harbinger for this year as well.

AFC West

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

OAKLAND RAIDERS

DENVER BRONCOS

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Looking back over the decades, there have been a small number of excellent teams that, for whatever reason, never won either an NFL title nor went to the Super Bowl. One of those teams was the Houston Oilers under Bum Philips, featuring one of the toughest defenses and crunching backs (Earl Campbell) of that or any other era. Unfortunately for the Oilers, their time of dominance overlapped Chuck Noll’s Pittsburgh Steelers; in this analyst’s mind the greatest team of all time. The Los Angeles Rams team of the late 60’s coached by George Allen, and featuring Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones, the greatest pair of Defensive Lineman in the history of the game, are another team that inexplicably fell short of immortality. A third is the Chargers teams coached by Larry Coryell, the offensive genius of his time. Yet a 4th could be brewing, also in San Diego, as a team that is a perennial Super Bowl favorite and playoff underachiever, which this season attempts to win in its 6th consecutive Division Title. The Chargers bear a striking resemblance to the Cowboys, with a plethora of talent, and a Head Coach in Norvelous Norv Turner who is consistently overmatched in playoff game situations. However, once again, they should have little difficulty reaching the playoffs. Phillip Rivers may or may not have Vincent Jackson to pass to, but he has enough targets to suffice, as well as rookie running back Ryan Mathews to help the Bolt Fanatics forget about the exploits of LaDainian. The real issue is whether DT Marcus McNeil ends his holdout, and if not, whether his replacement is competent at keeping Rivers off his keister.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

It seems like ages since the Ancient of Days, Dick Vermeil, developed the Chiefs offense into one of the most dynamic and exhilarating in the NFC. Kansas City has won a total of 12 games in the last three years, and it would be nice to say that there is a sea change afoot. Certainly, Matt Cassell is becoming adjusted to the offensive system, and the Chiefs rushing attack, now that the steady nuts & bolts RB Thomas Jones has been added to a crew that already includes budding star Jamaal Charles, should be daunting. Rookie Darren McCluster and Chris Chambers should insure that KC will score points in bunches.

The issue, of course, is will they be able to stop anyone. The defense ranked 31st in the league against the run, 30th in the league in yards allowed per game, and 29th in points allowed. Outside of 1st round pick FS Eric Barry, there were no significant additions to the defense.

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OAKLAND RAIDERS

The Raiders finally cut bait with Off-Your-Marcus Russell, who joins the pantheon of 1st round QB picks who were spectacular busts. Russell perhaps surpassed the worst of them; I have seen Beer-League quarterbacks with better accuracy. This dysfunctional choice lends even more credence that it is far beyond time that Al Davis let go of the reins of power and that until he does, the Raiders are doomed to continual seasons with records oscillating between 3-13 to 7-9. This year 6-10 seems likely, as Jason Campbell alone is a considerable upgrade over Russell. The team continues to have lots of holes to fill, including a paucity of a passing game, porous run defense, and a shaky offensive line. They do have the best CB in captivity whose last name is not Revis in Nnamdi Asomugha. But there is a reason that Tom Cable has the Head Coach position most often refused by other prospective candidates.

DENVER BRONCOS

The Broncos, already an organization in a great deal of flux, suffered potentially lethal one/two punches with the twin loss of stud wide-out Brandon Marshall to free agency and pass rush specialist Elvis Dumervil (17 sacks) to injury. There are no comparable replacements on the scene. The best unit on the squad is their Offensive Line, but the key players are all high injury risks. QB Kyle Orton is ordinary on the best of days, and his starting wide receivers are solid 3rd and 4th string wide-outs. This year, the Orange get Crushed.

By Paul J. Nebenfuhr
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer