For the overall , and see the links at the bottom of the page for the rest of the divisional previews.
颁丑颈别蹿蝉听10-6
罢丑别谤别’蝉听聽that Kansas City trading up to take Patrick Mahomes has them trending toward becoming the reincarnation of the 2006 Broncos, especially when聽considering incumbent Chiefs QB Alex Smith is just five years removed from watching the 49ers draft his replacement and eventually trading him to K.C. That experience could have Smith looking over his shoulder in 2017.
I don’t buy it. The 33 year-old Smith has posted QB ratings over 90 in each of the last three seasons and has two聽big-time targets to keep those numbers up: Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Hill was arguably the most electric player of 2016 and Kelce has developed into one of the game’s best tight ends. The big question is whether the ground game can take the pressure off whomever is under center. Spencer Ware went down with a聽season-ending聽knee injury but I聽believe聽KC’s running back depth can absorb that blow.
The defense welcomes back Justin Houston after an injury-shortened 2016, and that should be a big boost to a聽unit that ranked seventh in points allowed without him.聽I’d be surprised if they’re not聽in the Top 10 again this year.
Furthermore, the schedule plays right into the Chiefs’聽hands. KC will enjoy a league-best 12 net rest days, and Andy Reid is the best in the聽business with additional rest (as his 16-2 record following a bye week suggests). I see this team playing .500 ball the first half of the season before going on a December hot streak to聽snatch the AFC West title away from Oakland for the second straight year.
搁补颈诲别谤蝉听10-6
Their new home may be聽, but Oakland isn’t quite done with them yet.
The Raiders have Derek Carr back and ready to pick up where he left off before he got hurt late last season. He’s got some new toys — Marshawn Lynch, Jared Cook,聽and the speedy Cordarrelle Patterson — to add to a unit that was pretty prolific before they arrived.聽It’ll be interesting to see if Lynch looks more like Beast Mode or a 31 year-old guy聽that obviously hasn’t played in almost two years.
Khalil Mack is one of the three best defenders in the NFL but he’s only one player. Free agency cost this defense multiple members of their front seven and聽the unit overall聽still looks like it’ll be a liability, just like last year.聽First round pick Gareon Conley should help solidify a shaky secondary but this defense will be too mediocre to ensure Oakland a return to the 12-win mark.
颁丑补谤驳别谤蝉听9-7
The only thing more stunning than the Chargers quick bolt to Los Angeles is new head coach Anthony Lynn’s meteoric rise. Last year in Buffalo, Lynn went聽from running backs coach to offensive聽coordinator to head coach in聽all in the same season聽before bolting for the full-time head coaching gig in L.A.
I don’t know if that experience will be聽valuable,聽but聽having two former head coaches on staff (offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley)聽certainly is, especially for a team that was more talented than their 5-11 record in 2016. Philip Rivers is still one of the best (and most underrated) QBs in the NFL and Melvin Gordon seems to be trending up entering Year 3 (if he stays healthy). The Chargers’ top two 2017 draft picks (Mike Williams and Forrest Lamp) enter the league hurting, but Keenan Allen is a聽stud and聽the duo of Hunter Henry and Antonio聽Gates is as good a 1-2 punch at TE as you’ll find. This should be an outstanding offense.
Joey Bosa should be in the mix for聽Defensive Player of the Year on a unit that (with a little聽) should聽improve聽from last year’s聽29th ranking聽in scoring defense.聽Even in a new city and playing in聽the smallest venue to host a full NFL season since the 1956 Packers played their home games in 25,000-seat City Stadium, I see the Chargers contending for a Wild Card berth.
叠谤辞苍肠辞蝉听8-8
Denver must begin with D, both literally and figuratively.
The Broncos will only go as far as the defense will take them and it’s still a hell of an聽engine.聽Domata Peko was signed to try and shore up the run defense but the pass D took a hit when T.J. Ward was unceremoniously released and Shane Ray was placed on injured reserve (though he’s likely to return midseason). That said…Von Miller, Aqib Talib, and Chris Harris Jr. are still in the fold, so it’s still a top flight unit even if it’s anymore.
However, Denver’s聽two biggest questions happen to be at the two most important positions on any team: QB and head coach. Trevor Siemian emerged as the lesser of two evils for the former, and Vance Joseph is a rookie trying his hand at the latter. Siemian will play behind a completely overhauled offensive line, headlined by first-round pick Garett Bolles at left tackle and ex-Cowboy Ronald Leary at guard.聽Jamaal Charles joins a deep backfield that features C.J. Anderson as the top running back.
However,聽Denver will have to overcome a brutal schedule with an inexperienced head coach, a decidedly average QB, and no Wade Phillips to coach the defense. That’s a lot to ask in a stacked AFC West.
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