Broncos will easily win the AFC West in 2013
The AFC West last season was a one-team show with the Denver Broncos running away with the division title.
As the teams are currently in training camp and have started their preseason schedule, it is easy to see that the AFC West will be one of the few divisions that have one team that is the obvious favorite to win the division.
Denver enters the season as the odds on favorite to when the AFC West, the AFC Conference and one of the top three teams predicted to win the Super Bowl.
During the offseason, the other three teams in the division made changed to their rosters and coaching staffs and the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders all should be better, the question is how much better.
Denver’s key moves during the offseason were to sign Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Louis Vazquez and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They also drafted Montee Ball to replace Willis McGahee at running back. However, they lost Brandon Stokely at wide receiver and Elvis Dumervil one of their top lineman on defense.
Overall, the Broncos will be stronger at wide receiver with the signing of Welker. The former New England Patriot has more catches than any other player does in the NFL since 2007, with 672.
Denver’s defense will suffer from the loss of Dumervil and his 11 sacks last year.
Nevertheless, the Broncos will be a Super Bowl contender and will not be happy unless they reach the big game in February.
The Kansas City Chiefs traded in the offseason for Alex Smith the former starting quarterback at San Francisco before the Colin Kaepernick era started last season. The Chiefs also hired former Philadelphia Head Coach Andy Reid and new offensive and defense coordinators.
Without a doubt, Kansas City is better to start the season at quarterback with Smith. He completed over 61% of his passes last season is an efficient and consistent passer when used correctly.
Reid will have to clean the slate from the minds of his players as they suffered through a dismal 2-14 record last year.
Look for the Chiefs to win at least six and possibly more games this season.
The Oakland Raiders signed almost an entirely new defensive unit. They signed veteran Charles Woodson, Vance Walker, Pat Sims and Tracy Porter to just name a few.
They traded away Carson Palmer and lost a number of other players to trades and free agency. Most NFL fans will not recognize this year’s team.
With all the changes, the Raiders got much stronger in the defensive secondary. Tyvon Branch is the only holdover from the secondary of last season, as Woodson, Porter, D.J. Hayden, Usama Young and Mike Jenkins all are new to the team.
The Raiders will be weaker at wide receiver after losing Darrious Heyward-Bey, who had 105 catches over the last two seasons.
Matt Flynn will be the team’s starting quarterback, but will need time to learn defenses.
The new look defense will need time to mesh as a unit. Last season, the Raiders were 4-12, this season they could win 5 or as many as 6 but no more.
The San Diego Chargers made a number of moves during the offseason, with the biggest being signing Mike McCoy as the head coach and adding new offensive and defensive coordinators.
The acquisitions they made have made the offensive line stronger, which was their intention as last season they allowed 49 sacks.
On the defensive line, they could be weaker after losing Antonio Garay and Aubrayo Franklin.
Last season, the Chargers were 7-9, this season they will have to work extra hard to pass that mark.
The division is the Broncos and they should have it clinched by early December.
