2007 AFC West Picks & Predictions
June 5, 2008
Our 2007 AFC West predictions are showing that for the first time in a five years you will see a repeat of the division champion. Each of these teams has won a division title in the last five years, and the last four have managed to miss the playoffs the year after. Even though San Diego has lost nearly everyone major from their coaching staff of a year ago, they still have the tools to compete with the All-Stars on both sides of the ball. The only team that is completely lost is Oakland. The Raiders hopefully have hit rock bottom, but it’s going to be a slow climb back to the glory days.
First Place - 2007 San Diego Chargers Predictions - The Chargers have more talent than anyone else in football. The team is led by LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates on offense with the defense having playmakers in Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, and Quentin Jammer. This team won 14 games a year ago and the fan base was still upset because they couldn’t get past New England. The bad news is that the AFC is going to be loaded once again and San Diego is going to be right in the mix. Norv Turner will have to hope that his failures in Oakland and Washington were based on the teams he had, because now he has tons of talent and no excuses available.
Second Place - 2007 Denver Broncos Predictions - Denver is going to sneak up on some people this year. Last year the team basically threw in the towel with an eye towards the future, because even though Jake Plummer had been disappointing, he still had brought teams into the playoffs and had experience. Instead they wanted to groom Jay Cutler for a Super Bowl run this year and beyond. Travis Henry was brought in as well to help a running game that has been great year in and year out. Defensively they lost Al Wilson, but still have plenty to be one of the best in the AFC. Plus, when you have Champ Bailey shutting down the opposition’s best receiver you can focus on other areas.
Third Place - 2007 Kansas City Chiefs Predictions - Last year Kansas City was one of the oldest teams in the NFL. Herm Edwards wanted to go younger in his second year. Now Dick Vermeil probably wouldn’t recognize his former team, especially since they aren’t nearly the offensive powerhouse they were a few years ago and defensively they can actually get some stops. Trent Green is gone and Damon Huard is in, Huard played well when Green went down last year and Edwards is hoping he can continue at a high level. Larry Johnson needs to continue to carry the load if this team is going to compete. On defense if the front four can maintain then the linebacking group and the secondary will be above average. It’s going to be tough for Kansas City to make the playoffs, but not so tough for them to finish ahead of Oakland.
Fourth Place - 2007 Oakland Raiders Predictions - Ever since making the Super Bowl in 2002, the Raiders have won a total of 15 games in 4 years. Needless to say owner Al Davis isn’t happy with that performance and has brought in the youngest coach in team history, Lane Kiffin at 31, to try and change things. Kiffin will have to be learning on the fly, and we think he is going to be making more than his fair share of rookie mistakes. The team is hopeful that JaMarcus Russell can develop his raw talent and the defense can keep them in games. Offensively, it’s tough to be worse than the Raiders were last year, but they aren’t going to be a whole lot better this season. Don’t expect more than five or six wins out of this squad in 2007.
