2008 NFL Junkie: Who’s The Best of The AFC West?
In my weekly NFL Junky column, I will start by profiling every division, and who has the best chance to win. This week’s division is the AFC West.
The Chargers look to the retain the title this year after a solid season last year. Quarterback Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson look to be the leaders of this team, as they certainly were last season. LT rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last year in just over 300 carries, and 15 scores. The guy is a beast, and continues to roll over defensive lines all over football. Rivers is certainly growing into a mature passer, throwing for over twenty TDs for the second straight season. Still, the numbers dropped for 2006 to last year, and its quite evident in the amount of INTs thrown. 9 two years ago, and 15 last year. Still, I like Rivers because now he has some more threats to catch his throws, as he’ll be throwing to Chris Chambers who will be in his first full season in San Diego. I also love Vincent Jackson this year after what he did in the playoffs.
The Broncos look scary right now… for other teams that is. I think its Denver’s year to shine in 2008, with a new QB WR combo bursting on the scene in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. Marshall has gotten into a little bit of trouble with the law, but what WR doesn’t get into trouble with the law? Cutler played his first full season and was certainly intriguing to look at the numbers. 20 TD passes for nearly 3500 yards. As a young QB, 14 interceptions doesn’t surprise me, and that number will either go down or stay in the same area over the next 5 years or so if Cutler stays healthy. This guy is the real deal, as he finished in the top ten in yards and completions this past year. A big part of those numbers is Marshall, who finished in the top 5 in receptions, and the top 10 in total yards, and yards per game. The defense for this team needs some work, as the gang ranked 19th in total defense. The offense will work this year for the Broncos, but look for the defense to make some changes.
The Kansas City Chiefs are, and may be for a while a team that is on one of those downward spirals that it just can’t seem to get out of. The only glimmers of hope this season are how Glenn Dorsey performs, second year standout WR Dwayne Bowe not having a sophomore slump, and Tony Gonzalez being alive for his 100th birthday. The QB situation is turning into muddy waters for Brodie Croyle, as I see this being his first full year being used to things in the NFL, and we all know how long it’s been since a QB with that little experience get in a good season. Good luck to this team, they’ll need it.
The Raiders are being picked by many to get over the hump and win more then they lose this coming season. The pieces are in place, with JaMarcus Russell stepping into the starter’s role for his first full season, Darren McFadden leading the way in the backfield, and my mom’s best friend’s boyfriend helping out Ronald Curry at WR. My point exactly. This team has a little ways to go before I consider them a plus .500 football team. I mean I think people need to come back to reality and realize that even with McFadden, this team can’t magically win more then eight games. It takes time, especially for a team that has been this bad for this long.
The Chargers are definitely the best of the AFC West. However, this is the year that the Broncos pull it together with a young quarterback and a talented young WR. Expect Denver to make a run at the wild card in the AFC because the Jets aren’t ready yet (I know I’ll get shalacked on this site for saying that), the Jaguars need more depth at receiver, and I’m not sold on the Ravens QB situation or the Bengals with no defense.
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Ha, Jets aren’t ready yet? We will see…
QB is the question. Whether the noble Chad or the constipated Clemens can seize the day. If not, the rest is silence in January.
if chad and kellen stinks the place up we have to see what ainge got before next yrs. draft.
The Broncos have been the chic pick since John Elway retired and they haven’t won anything since then. They were just as sorry as the Jets last season.
So Mack Rosenberg’s job at TJB is to write third-hand league roundups and shallow analysis with a National focus. Couldn’t you just throw up a link to USA Today’s NFL page? Like this:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/default.htm
Well, that was easy AND uninformative. Maybe Mack should work on his pie charts.
HOZ THE JET
Drafting a QB next year is not the answer. There will be plenty of free agents available such as Brady Quinn.
your funny goat
ha. that, mack, was hillarious. did you intend to write your instead of you’re? either way, hillarious.
mack –
I think what goat is trying to say (in kind of a douchebag way), is that we read these columns expecting breaking news and/or unique insight. As you continue to write for TJB, you should consider that the audience here is pretty football savvy (or obsessed – pick one) and a surface level analysis is inadequate. You should try to take a deeper dive into the analysis of these subjects to present us with something based upon your unique point of view.
-just some constructive criticism
thank you ill keep it in mind
[...] Jets blog believes 2008 will be the Broncos’ “year to shine.” [...]
As a Broncos fan, I have to agree with the author of this piece. The D will improve dramatically ( with or without Dewayne Robertson). This has always been the key with Shannahan’s teams. THe O will produce, and the Broncos go only as far as the D takes them.
Good luck to the Jets, do us all a favor and beat the Patriots, and the Bills this year. Miami shouldn’t be a problem.
Good post. I like how you brought the statistics to the forefront and compared them to actual game time. Very informing.