2023 AFC West Division Preview

The 2023 NFL Season is here and the Chefs are always excited this time of year. We continue our NFL Season Preview as we give our AFC West Division Preview. The class of this division is clearly the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs as they sport the best QB and head coach in the league. But new faces in Denver and Las Vegas and an ascending QB in Justin Herbert will look to challenge in the West. We have our picks who will come out on top.

Denver Broncos

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Key additions: RT Mike McGlinchey, DE Zach Allen, G Ben Powers, EDGE Frank Clark, QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Drew Sanders, TE Chris Manhertz

Key departures: EDGE Dre’Mont Jones, OT Calvin Anderson, TE Andrew Beck, G Graham Glasgow, CB Ronald Darby, K Brandon McManus

Biggest Strength:

The marriage of Sean Payton and Russell Wilson is going to be the straw that stirs this drink. So much was made about the previous coaching staff that this breakup is going to end up being one of the biggest strengths of this team. Denver has one of the best defenses in the NFL and will rely on them to generate a ton of pressure and give the offense optimal field position.

Biggest Weakness:

The term "Let Russ Cook" was birthed and from that a few years of bad play was served to the masses. If this marriage hits rocky roads too frequently, the "wheels" might actually fall off. RB Javonte Williams is returning from season ending injury, WR Jerry Judy is already expected to miss time at the beginning of the season, and TE Greg Dulcich has a personal matter that might have him miss some time. This Broncos team has had a slew of bad luck with injuries over the past few years, their biggest issue is being able to field a solid team every week.

They make the playoffs if:

Unlike their division rivals I do believe there's a path for the Broncos to make the playoffs as a wildcard participant. I'm not high on Chargers head coach Brandon Stanley being able to not self-sabotage his own team, so the Broncos can easily finish 2nd in this division. If they are able to remain in the playoff picture until November the latter part of their season with games vs the Browns, Texans, Chargers, Patriots, Raiders. They are set up for them to go on a nice run.

Season Prediction:

Floor: 4-13

Ceiling: 8-9

Actual Prediction 6-10

Las Vegas Raiders

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Key additions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Jakobi Meyers, S Marcus Epps, LB Robert Spillane, CB Brandon Facyson, QB Brian Hoyer, EDGE Tyree Wilson

Key departures: QB Derek Carr, TE Darren Waller, QB Jarrett Stidham, CB Rock Ya-Sin, TE Foster Moreau

Biggest Strength:

Finding a way to get RB Josh Jacobs back into camp and ready to go for the 2023 season is going to prove to be a tremendous factor in how well the Las Vegas Raiders look this season. During the off-season, the Raiders spent a ton of free agent capital on acquiring linebackers, edge rushers and defensive secondary to help a struggling defense. Robert Spillane is a tackling monster and Marcus Peters is very good in press man coverage

Biggest Weakness:

For all intensive purposes, let’s say we ignore the fact that Josh McDaniels isn’t a great NFL head coach, there are several question marks surrounding this Las Vegas Raiders team. Can quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo stay healthy? Conventional understanding, and wisdom would suggest that at some point during the season, Garoppolo will get injured, thus making the offense for the Raiders very very questionable with the additions. Playing in a division that has offensive fire power like the Chefs and Chargers has this defense under the most pressure to make plays, are they going to be able to stand up.

They make the playoffs if:

For the Raiders to make the playoffs, significant pieces around them have to fall perfectly right. I'n speaking about, injuries to key players in the AFC, Jimmy Garoppolo has to be in the MVP discussion, and Josh Jacobs has to duplicate his 2022 numbers. Along with the offense having an "Madden like" season, the defense has to keep teams to under 18 points per game and be able to turn turnovers into touchdowns.

Record predictions:

Floor: 2-17

Ceiling 6-11

Real Prediction 4-13

Kansas City Chiefs

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Key additions: RT Jawaan Taylor, EDGE Charles Omenihu, LB Drue Tranquill, S Mike Edwards, LT Donovan Smith, EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Key departures: LT Orlando Brown Jr., DE Frank Clark, RT Andrew Wylie, WR Mecole Hardman, WR Juju Smith-Schuster, S Juan Thornhill, DT Khalen Saunders, QB Chad Henne

Biggest Strength:

The defending Super Bowl Champions have Andy Reid is calling plays for QB Patrick Mahomes to throw to Travis Kelce. That means the Chiefs will always be considered Super Bowl contenders in spite of losing Eric Bienemy, LT Orlando Brown Jr and company. The have arguably the greatest head coach, QB and TE in their building. The Chiefs have one of the NFL’s best interior-blocking guards/centers in the league, but for the second time in 3 years they are replacing the all important LT position.

Biggest Weakness:

The injury to Kelce is huge but more short term to me. The holdout of Chris Jones is a major problem that should not have gotten to this point. The pass rush will suffer if they can't figure it out. The Chiefs were 2nd in the league in sacks last season. But Chris Jones not being in the building coupled with DE Charles Omenihu being suspended by the league for the first 6 games because of a violation of the league's personal conduct policy is not helping. The Chiefs can still generate pressure on quarterbacks with DE George Karlaftis and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. But this defense goes from good to formidable with Jones. The defense is boosted by returning 6 defensive players who played important snaps as rookies, especially in the secondary.

They make the playoffs if:

No reason to think this team won't make the playoffs, but they will if Jones and Kelce return to form for the offense and defense.

Season Prediction:

The Chiefs are the cream of the crop and they are favorites. They need their 2nd and 3rd best players in the building to fight for the important #1 seed in the AFC. They won the first round bye by a 1/2 game last season and every game counts in the AFC.

Floor: 10-7

Ceiling: 15-2

Real Prediction: 13-4

Los Angeles Chargers

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Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks, WR Quentin Johnston

Key departures: LB Drue Tranquill, S Nasir Adderley, G Matt Feiler

Biggest Strength:

The Chargers sport one of the NFL’s most talented rosters and are returning 20 starters on both sides of the ball (11 offensive and 9 defensive starters). New Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore should do nothing but lift QB Justin Herbert into the MVP conversation. But Herbert can only get there with a healthy WR duo of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. These two wideout are talented, but never finish a full season for the Chargers. RB Austin Ekeler wanted out as they couldn't agree to a new deal, but he's back and a Fantasy Football machine.

Biggest Weakness:

The Chargers were one of the most injured teams in the league last season, which took them out of the division race with the Chiefs last season. But this team is tided to their head coach Brandon Staley. Some people think of Staley as an innovator and some see him as a choke-artist because of his terrible fourth-down decisions. Staley is on the hot seat as he has to put it together this season. The Chargers have built veteran defense around Herbert, including Derwin James, J.C. Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr. This team is projected to be at least $64 million over the salary cap in 2024, so cuts are coming next season.

They make the playoffs if:

Brandon Staley can get this team over the hump, too much talent to not be in the discussion of best in the league.

Season Prediction:

The Chargers need their stars to play like stars and stay healthy. Keenan Allen is one of the most talented WRs in the league, but he is fading fact. Their backups to play better than they did last season but this team is too talented on offense to fade.

Floor: 9-8

Ceiling: 12-5

Real Prediction: 10-7