AFC West: Week 4 matchups

The AFC West might be the strongest division in the National Football League from top to bottom. Despite the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs both sitting at 1-2 after three weeks, nobody would be surprised to see either team going deep into the AFC playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos are looking for their fifth straight division title, while the Oakland Raiders simply seek respect. the Raiders are 2-1 and hoping to move a pair of games above .500 with the Chicago Bears on deck.

Here is a look at all four games involving the AFC West, and a taste of what to expect:

Oakland Raiders (-3 ) at Chicago Bears

This is the first time in years that the Raiders have been favorites on the road. Chicago is 0-3 and looks absolutely atrocious on both sides of the ball. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey won’t play against Oakland, and it is likely that quarterback Jay Cutler also sits another week. The Raiders should be able to move the ball with relative ease, utilizing Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Latavius Murray. This could be a major moment for the Raiders.

Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals (-4)

The Chiefs looked so good in Week 1 but have since faltered, blowing a primetime game to the Broncos before getting hammered on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers. Cincinnati is undefeated and Andy Dalton has looked terrific, throwing for eight touchdowns and only one interception. The Chiefs are getting star cornerback Sean Smith back from suspension, and paired with Marcus Peters will be a handful for Cincinnati to deal with. Look for a desperate Kansas City team to play very well.

Cleveland Browns at San Diego Chargers (-9)

San Diego is still licking its proverbial wounds after being knocked all over the park by the Vikings, but comes home to face a punchless opponent. Cleveland is also 1-2 but nobody sees much hope in a team that has Josh McCown under center and a top weapon in Brian Hartline. The Browns are going to struggle in almost any road game, and trying to beat the Chargers after two consecutive defeats will be near impossible. The only reason for Cleveland fans to hope is a quality defense perhaps forcing turnovers.

Minnesota Vikings at Denver Broncos (-7)

The Broncos are an odd case. They are 3-0 and have been the NFL’s top-ranked defense, but the offense has been brutal. Denver now comes home to face an up-and-coming Vikings team that will try to pound the ball with Adrian Peterson and throw underneath to tight end Kyle Rudolph. It seems like a bad matchup for Minnesota, but it should get pressure on Peyton Manning. Smart money is definitely on Denver, but it would not be stunning to see Teddy Bridgewater and Co. pull off the upset.