Credit: NFL.com
NFL Predictions and Opinions: AFC West Edition
Published: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
by Chris Heite and Ryan Nelke
The Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC West for the past eight seasons, and it appears that trend will continue this year. After securing back-to-back Super Bowl victories, the Chiefs bolstered their offense with key additions such as Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy. The other AFC West teams face many challenges, with only some expected to reach seven wins this season.
Among the challengers, the Los Angeles Chargers have the best chance, thanks to star quarterback Justin Herbert and new head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, the departure of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler means a significant overhaul for the team. The Las Vegas Raiders, coming off a tumultuous season, retained head coach Antonio Pierce but face uncertainty with either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell as quarterback. Neither option looks very helpful, though. The Denver Broncos, expected to rotate between Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, or Zach Wilson at quarterback, will likely continue their playoff drought. Here’s a closer look at each team.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs faced challenges early last year as their offense struggled, but their defense emerged and saved the season, transforming into a top unit. They secured superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones with a five-year, $158.75 million deal but traded stud cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Titans. The offense should adjust, and with a strong defense, the Chiefs are poised for a historic three-peat. They may stumble against Baltimore, Atlanta, and San Francisco but are expected to win out from Weeks 8-17, finishing the season with a 13-4 record and first place in the AFC West.
— Ryan Nelke
It was yet another exciting year last season for the Chiefs. Despite early season questions, the Chiefs proved they are the NFL’s new dynasty by securing another Lombardi Trophy. Teams change every season, but by retaining key players like Chris Jones and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs are set for another deep playoff run. With a top-tier offense and defense and a favorable schedule, I project them to finish second in the AFC with a 13-4 record.
— Chris Heite
Los Angeles Chargers
Under new coaches Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, the Chargers are expected to adopt a run-heavy offense, a shift from Justin Herbert’s previous pass-oriented schemes. The team added Roman’s former Ravens running backs, Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins, so the offense could look similar to Roman’s offense in Baltimore. The defense remains strong with stars like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James Jr. Despite these assets, I project the Chargers to finish 6-11 and second in the AFC West. This team has an outside chance to make a surprise run, but their overall lack of star talent will be their downfall.
— Ryan Nelke
Chargers fans have been let down by underperformance in previous seasons, and this season will be no different. Concerns about Justin Herbert's injury add to the uncertainty, even though he is expected to be ready for Week One. While JK Dobbins and defensive stars like Joey Bosa offer hope, I still expect the Chargers to underwhelm and miss the playoffs with a 7-10 record.
— Chris Heite
Denver Broncos
The Russell Wilson experiment is over, but it doesn’t seem that things will be getting better anytime soon in Denver. The Mile High City’s hopes now rest on the shoulders of Bo Nix, the sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, I believe Sean Payton reached a mile for him, as he shouldn’t have cost them a first-round pick. Nix is surrounded by a below-average offense consisting of Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams. The defense is also reeling after the loss of defensive leaders Justin Simmons and Josey Jewell. I expect the Broncos to struggle mightily, finishing with a 4-13 record.
— Ryan Nelke
Now that Russell Wilson’s disappointing stint in Denver is over, Sean Payton now has Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, and Jared Stidham in his quarterback room. Stidham is likely the starter to open the season, but with an offense devoid of talent and a lackluster defense, this doesn’t look like a promising year for the Broncos. I project the Broncos to go 5-12, finishing last in the division and missing the playoffs.
— Chris Heite
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders retained Antonio Pierce as their head coach but failed to upgrade the quarterback position this offseason. Gardner Minshew may have led the Colts to a play-in game last year, but I believe he will struggle to turn things around in Las Vegas. This could also be the last straw for Davante Adams after his frustrations from last year were showcased on the Netflix show, “Receiver.” I project the Raiders to finish last in the AFC West with a 4-13 record, possibly costing Pierce his job.
— Ryan Nelke
Last season was interesting, to say the least, but far from successful for the Raiders. Despite bringing back Antonio Pierce to be their head coach, the Raiders' lack of a strong quarterback and defensive core will hinder their playoff hopes. Pierce is on the fast track to becoming an elite coach in this league, but coaching will not fix the lack of talent at these key positions. With Gardner Minshew at the helm, I project the Raiders to finish 6-11 and miss the playoffs.
— Chris Heite
Projected AFC West Standings
Ryan Nelke
1. Chiefs (13-4)
2. Chargers (6-11)
3. Broncos (4-13)
4. Raiders (4-13)
Chris Heite
1. Chiefs (13-4)
2. Chargers (7-10)
3. Raiders (6-11)
4. Broncos (5-12)
The AFC West has historically been a weaker division, but will the reigning Super
Bowl champions continue their dominance? Find out when the NFL season kicks off on
September 5.
Chris Heite can be reached at christopher.heite@student.shu.edu
Posted in: sports,