That's the way I see it this year.  I think Oakland is probably the only lock to finish in last as they did nothing to improve from a 3rd place roster last year with their limited draft and who knows what happens with McClain.

As far as KC, Denver, and SD goes, I think you could make a case for all three to finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any order.

KC: So many people forget how injuries decimated their roster early last season.  They will be getting their best defensive player, best offensive player, and added some solid pieces in the draft and FA.  (Remind me again why KC signed Winston while we're happy with the human revolving door we have at RT?)

Denver:  Two words: Peyton Manning.  If he returns to form, which is a fairly big "IF," they would be my pick to win the division.  Obviously, god forbid any injuries should happen to Peyton early in the year, that could be the only way that I see Oakland not finishing in last as Denver has nothing at the QB position behind Peyton.

SD: I think we are probably the hardest team to figure out in regards to this season.  It's clear, at least I think it is, that anything short of a division title will see Norv and AJ packing so there's the pressure on them in that regard, which is good, IMO.  Our defense should be drastically better with Ingram, Reyes, and don't count out Mouton as we saw the impact Butler made after having a red-shirt rookie year.  I'm not completely sold on our WR options minus VJack, but I think our run game will be improved with Mathews having another year of experience under his belt, and our return game should be improved with the weapons we added there.  Also, will Philip Rivers have a rebound year similar to what Eli had last year?

If you held a gun to my head today, I would say KC has the least amount of question marks, Denver has the highest upside, and SD falls in the middle of both of those.

Guess you can't get over your obvious hate for the Oakland Raiders to recognize that they have a solid young group of players that quietly have been playing solid football. The only question mark IMO is the line backer position and DMC'S health, but whatever you guys can run your mouth all you want. We will see what happens this season. This isn't the same Raiders of the last 10 years.

rAiDeRFaN4EvEr wrote: Guess you can't get over your obvious hate for the Oakland Raiders to recognize that they have a solid young group of players that quietly have been playing solid football. The only question mark IMO is the line backer position and DMC'S health, but whatever you guys can run your mouth all you want. We will see what happens this season. This isn't the same Raiders of the last 10 years.

While I am a Chargers fan through and through and obviously can't stand the Raiders and most of their fans, I have to agree here. I know Palmer didn't make a huge splash but who could with such little familiarity and with Palmer being out of football for awhile.

I like some of the Raiders offensive weapons. If DMC can stay healthy and Palmer can build a rapport with some of those young WR, I think they could surprise a little. But the problem with the AFC West is that every team has about 10 question marks surrounding it, so who the heck really knows. I do think the Chargers should be improved though....that's for sure. HA! How can they not.

Guess you can't tune in to an NFL season.  Remind me when again the Raiders' last winning season was?  Let's see

Their QB is a turnover machine but apparently that question mark just seemed to elude you.  Actually, it is the same Raiders of the last 10 years until they put together a winning season so when that happens, feel free and come back to tell us how you were right in that regard, assuming, of course, it happens in your lifetime.

rAiDeRFaN4EvEr wrote: Guess you can't get over your obvious hate for the Oakland Raiders to recognize that they have a solid young group of players that quietly have been playing solid football. The only question mark IMO is the line backer position and DMC'S health, but whatever you guys can run your mouth all you want. We will see what happens this season. This isn't the same Raiders of the last 10 years.

SoCalThrilla wrote: That's the way I see it this year.  I think Oakland is probably the only lock to finish in last as they did nothing to improve from a 3rd place roster last year with their limited draft and who knows what happens with McClain.

As far as KC, Denver, and SD goes, I think you could make a case for all three to finish in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in any order.

KC: So many people forget how injuries decimated their roster early last season.  They will be getting their best defensive player, best offensive player, and added some solid pieces in the draft and FA.  (Remind me again why KC signed Winston while we're happy with the human revolving door we have at RT?)

Denver:  Two words: Peyton Manning.  If he returns to form, which is a fairly big "IF," they would be my pick to win the division.  Obviously, god forbid any injuries should happen to Peyton early in the year, that could be the only way that I see Oakland not finishing in last as Denver has nothing at the QB position behind Peyton.

SD: I think we are probably the hardest team to figure out in regards to this season.  It's clear, at least I think it is, that anything short of a division title will see Norv and AJ packing so there's the pressure on them in that regard, which is good, IMO.  Our defense should be drastically better with Ingram, Reyes, and don't count out Mouton as we saw the impact Butler made after having a red-shirt rookie year.  I'm not completely sold on our WR options minus VJack, but I think our run game will be improved with Mathews having another year of experience under his belt, and our return game should be improved with the weapons we added there.  Also, will Philip Rivers have a rebound year similar to what Eli had last year?

If you held a gun to my head today, I would say KC has the least amount of question marks, Denver has the highest upside, and SD falls in the middle of both of those.

1st - San Diego:  The big question for me will always be....will Norv have them ready to go in September, or is desperation the only motivator he can work with?  That said, I think we did the most to improve this offseason.  We spent the VJ money very wisely and kept all our other key players, and added to the depth at nearly every position of need in free agency.  Then we stole Melvin Ingram and Kendall Reyes, and jumped ahead of KC to draft Brandon Taylor all of whome can contribute this year.   Offensively....we're gonna score points, so lets skip ahead to defense.  At face value we may not have the most talented front 7, but we easily have the deepest at all 7 positions.  If Pagano can be the anti-Manusky  we will improve, regardless if Jammer continues to decline.  Also a positive is the right guys are playing for new contracts, incuding Phillips, Cason, Martin, Castillo, Garay (his $5M option), and Barnes.  Prediction: 10-6

2nd - KC:  The postives...they're getting Charles, Moeaki and Berry back, 2 Pro Bowlers and a solid TE.  They signed Eric Winston and shored up their RT concerns, Peyton Hillis is a great #2 back and will be playing for a new deal, Kevin Boss is a solid #2 TE, Baldwin and Houston seem to have big upsides and it would seem they have finally have a NT prospect in Poe. **sigh** BUT.....Cassel has been dog **** since the day Weis announced he was leaving, and I find it laughable that people think a defensive guy like Crennel is going to bring his play back to the 2010 level when they were winning games by the skin of their teeth.  Trust me by week 8 this will be the most predictable offense in football, teams will stack 8 in the box and dare Cassel to throw deep.  Defensive, at first look has some big names, but if you look further....they can't handle but more than 1 or 2 injuries at a time. After Justin Houston they have nobody at OLB, after Stanford Routt (most penalized CB in the NFL)....they have nobody.  They don't have a starting SS, Tyson Jackson is a bust, Glenn Dorsey is a bust, there is no way Poe who never played a single snap at NT in college is going to step in and be much more than a liability as a rookie.  This is a very shallow defensive group.   Prediction: 8-8

3rd - DEN:  Biggest question is will Peyton at 36 and fresh off 4 neck surgeries decline?  Or is he an alien?  Full offseason or not, I have a hard time believing he's gonna have this team going no huddle in September, I also don't believe Denvers defense and running game are even half as good as people think, about 25% of their rushing yards belonged to Tim Tebow last year, and another small percentage has to be accounted to the option offense they were running.   They finished 24th in scoring defense last year, they lost Brodrick Bunkley and Brian Dawkins, they added Porter and Florence and drafted Wolfe...so maybe MAYBE they stay the same, but I don't see them getting better at all.   And do yourself a favor and take a look at their first 8 games, BRUTALITY.  If Peyton isn't clicking week 1 they could start 3-5, more likely worse.    Prediction: 8-8

4th - OAK: Not sure what to expect, they get McFadden back, they seem to have a deep group of WRs, Palmer is going to get a full offseason working on the roster, and I really like Lamaar Houston and think he elevates into a boarder line pro bowl player this year. But really they didn't improve their roster at all this offseason.  Losing Wimbley I think kills their already swiss cheese secondary and makes those weak CBs look even worse, and lets not forget they finished bottom 5 in rushing defense last year. They've already got 2 guys facing serious legal action, and even if they aren't put in jail they could still get suspended, and obviously because of lack of money and draft picks they lack depth at every level of the game except WR and RB.  And also its hard to bank on such a young newbie coaching staff  Prediction: 6-10


And if anyone would like I would be willing to go through any schedule and show you where I got the wins and losses for each team, I'm not just throwing out a random record because I think it sounds appropriate for the team in question.

Nice write up Syx! I think Denver will probably win the division, hate to say it and I think Oakland will win more than six games, heck they play the Chargers twice right, so all they need to do is win four more games...HA! While we've had the faiders number for awhile it seems they are starting to try and return the favor. For me, the Chargers offensive line is a huge problem....unless it gets some upgrading before the season starts, I think the Chargers will have some issues closing some games.

Chargerhonk wrote: Nice write up Syx! I think Denver will probably win the division, hate to say it and I think Oakland will win more than six games, heck they play the Chargers twice right, so all they need to do is win four more games...HA! While we've had the faiders number for awhile it seems they are starting to try and return the favor. For me, the Chargers offensive line is a huge problem....unless it gets some upgrading before the season starts, I think the Chargers will have some issues closing some games.

I think you give Peyton more credit than he deserves at this point, gone are the days where his name on a roster means 10 guaranteed wins....and take a look at that schedule when you get a chance, by far the hardest in the NFL.  No way they are over .500 at the halfway point.

And if I remember correctly we flogged the Raiders in week 17 when all they had to do was beat us to get into the playoffs, in a meaningless game for us.  And their roster is worse now than it was that day.

I think the team folded because they absolutely hated the coach. Their offense should be very competitive....but I agree that the faiders could have some issues winning games too.

I don't think the Broncos would drop that kind of coin on Peyton if they truly thought he was not physically capable of coming back. I see him having a very good year.....He won't be the old Peyton, I think they'll run more, but he'll be a great game manager and keep the chains moving.

Chargerhonk wrote: I think the team folded because they absolutely hated the coach. Their offense should be very competitive....but I agree that the faiders could have some issues winning games too.

I don't think the Broncos would drop that kind of coin on Peyton if they truly thought he was not physically capable of coming back. I see him having a very good year.....He won't be the old Peyton, I think they'll run more, but he'll be a great game manager and keep the chains moving.

Nonsense, no team quits on their coach when they're playig a division rival in week 17 and 1 win away from the playoffs.  I don't believe that for a split second.


Broncos -
1. I do think Peyton will be fine physically, what I don't believe is that this Bronco offense will become the machine the Colts offense was for years....the machine it will need to be to win games with that sub par defense.  You're gonna see a lot more huddling, a lot of timing issues, a lot of frustration as the whole team changes its identity to fit Manning which means a rough start. (notice key term)

2. I absolutely think they'd risk it all, at a minimum John Fox gets to get rid of the Tebow circus he never signed up for and never fully committed to publically.  And its not like there isn't an injury clause in his contract a la Marcus McNeill.  

3.  Lastly, the schedule bro! Right when Peyton is going to be trying to get comfortable in game speed they have the toughest 8 game stretch of any team in the NFL including PIT, @ATL, HOU, @NE, @SD, NO, @CIN even Oakland is tough as they have NEVER been able to stop DMac.  I think they finish this stretch 2-6, maybe 3-5, and then you have to consider Peyton has never been good in poor weather, or on wet turf....both they have in Denver in December.

8-8 to the bank baby.

I know that sounds like nonsense, and I am not saying that they didn't "try to win" obviously this is the NFL, but let me ask you this....Did you see the post game interview with Hue Jackson after they lost to the Chargers and got knocked out of the playoffs? if you did, you might not be so quick to disagree. He threw everyone under the bus, backed it up, and did it again. I think he believes his team quit too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZrAqXFle9Q

Chargerhonk wrote: I know that sounds like nonsense, and I am not saying that they didn't "try to win" obviously this is the NFL, but let me ask you this....Did you see the post game interview with Hue Jackson after they lost to the Chargers and got knocked out of the playoffs? if you did, you might not be so quick to disagree. He threw everyone under the bus, backed it up, and did it again. I think he believes his team quit too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZrAqXFle9Q

Hue Jackson was a fool and deserved to be fired, but I don't think the team stopped playing diliberately to get him fired

Whats funny is Raider fans swore up and down he was the 2nd coming of Bill Walsh coming into last season. hahaha  They're fan base is so dilusional it's become somewhat boring to pick on them.

Oh, hell yeah, they quit.

These professional athletes have careers and lives to think about. Hell, Kobe Bryant would have a hard time deciding whether to take a charge or allow the world to fall into global thermonuclear war.

When the ball goes to the other side of the field, there are players winking at each other and going half speed.

The last Raider game was 100% meaningless except that it gave Deano an excuse to stay the course with an "offensive guru" HC who can't even get his team to run a 2-minute offense after five years on the job.

syxwunine wrote:

Nonsense, no team quits on their coach when they're playig a division rival in week 17 and 1 win away from the playoffs. I don't believe that for a split second.

rAiDeRFaN4EvEr wrote: Guess you can't get over your obvious hate for the Oakland Raiders to recognize that they have a solid young group of players that quietly have been playing solid football. The only question mark IMO is the line backer position and DMC'S health, but whatever you guys can run your mouth all you want. We will see what happens this season. This isn't the same Raiders of the last 10 years.

Sure it is.   Everyone's pick to "surprise" in the offseason only to squeek out 6-8 wins. 

Your team's success revolves around the health of your best player, McFadden. Unfortunately for you, he's made of glass. 

I see 6-8 wins in your future...again.

Cosign.

McFadden is as likely to play 16 games for Oakland as Floyd is for us.  Neither is happening, of course.  The Raiders let Bush go and made a move for Mike Goodson out of Carolina.  We'll see if Goodson can be a workhorse for the 4-6 games that McFadden will miss.

leafh8tr wrote:

rAiDeRFaN4EvEr wrote: Guess you can't get over your obvious hate for the Oakland Raiders to recognize that they have a solid young group of players that quietly have been playing solid football. The only question mark IMO is the line backer position and DMC'S health, but whatever you guys can run your mouth all you want. We will see what happens this season. This isn't the same Raiders of the last 10 years.

Sure it is.   Everyone's pick to "surprise" in the offseason only to squeek out 6-8 wins. 

Your team's success revolves around the health of your best player, McFadden. Unfortunately for you, he's made of glass. 

I see 6-8 wins in your future...again.

syxwunine wrote:

Chargerhonk wrote: I think the team folded because they absolutely hated the coach. Their offense should be very competitive....but I agree that the faiders could have some issues winning games too.

I don't think the Broncos would drop that kind of coin on Peyton if they truly thought he was not physically capable of coming back. I see him having a very good year.....He won't be the old Peyton, I think they'll run more, but he'll be a great game manager and keep the chains moving.

Nonsense, no team quits on their coach when they're playig a division rival in week 17 and 1 win away from the playoffs.  I don't believe that for a split second.


Broncos -
1. I do think Peyton will be fine physically, what I don't believe is that this Bronco offense will become the machine the Colts offense was for years....the machine it will need to be to win games with that sub par defense.  You're gonna see a lot more huddling, a lot of timing issues, a lot of frustration as the whole team changes its identity to fit Manning which means a rough start. (notice key term)

2. I absolutely think they'd risk it all, at a minimum John Fox gets to get rid of the Tebow circus he never signed up for and never fully committed to publically.  And its not like there isn't an injury clause in his contract a la Marcus McNeill.  

3.  Lastly, the schedule bro! Right when Peyton is going to be trying to get comfortable in game speed they have the toughest 8 game stretch of any team in the NFL including PIT, @ATL, HOU, @NE, @SD, NO, @CIN even Oakland is tough as they have NEVER been able to stop DMac.  I think they finish this stretch 2-6, maybe 3-5, and then you have to consider Peyton has never been good in poor weather, or on wet turf....both they have in Denver in December.

8-8 to the bank baby.

Your theories certainly do have some validity and I'd be clinging to them as well were I a fan of the Cheifs or Chargers.

Certainly, Denver has, on paper anwyay, an absolutely brutal brutal schedule.  Given the way the defense performed against playoff calibre teams last season, that obviously is a huge concern and in my view is your strongest argument.  As good as Manning is, it's going to be a lot to ask to expect him to be putting up 30+ points week in and week out against teams like the Ravens and Steelers to stay in games.

With respect to Manning, your argument gets a lot weaker.  Assuming he is healthy, even if your expectation that he will not be in sync with his receivers in the early part of the season holds, it's still difficult to believe that inserting Manning into the same offense that Tebow ran last year wouldn't result in a huge improvement.  This is an offense that averaged less than 20PPG under Tebow and was completely and utterly innefective at moving the ball for huge chunks of almost every game they played.  You had a QB that everyone knew was not going to throw the ball and could gameplan around and you replace him with Peyton Manning. It's difficult to believe that, struggles or no, there won't be significant offensive improvement with a healthy Manning.

As someone esle said, if Manning gets hurt, then it all goes out the window.  On the defensive side of the ball, Denver is almost certainly going to need Wolfe to step in on day 1 and be a significant contributor or they are going to get eaten alive by the run yet again.  They're banking on Ty Warren being healthy and contributing as a starter and things aren't off to a good start on that longshot with him balking on OTA's because of a contract dispute.

Correct me if im wrong here, but didnt two years ago the Raiders swept the division. meaning they beat us twice?

Didnt last year they whooped our butt on a Thursday night game?

Wasnt it also last year, that us, the Raiders, and the Broncos were all 8-8?

So, if I am reading into this correctly, that ass whoopin they gave us in that Thursday night game, kept us from winning the Division?

And we are still counting them out? They swept us and the division two years ago, split the two games with us this past season, had the same record as us when it was all said and done, and we are so much more superior?

Wasnt their best player out for that game, as well, that Thursday night butt whooping?

What are we talking about here? They didnt get much better?

Did we? All we did was hopefully fill as many holes as we could, doesnt mean we got much better.....

Oh, and last time I checked, Rivers wasnt exactly careful with the rock last year, either.....

Just sayin.....Lets actually make the playoffs, and beat teams were are supposed to beat, before we start bashing other teams, who have had our number the past couple years.....

It's a selective memory thing....HA!

Happens every off-season. Just go back and read last off-seasons posts if you need more of a perspective.

Hey, the Chargers have improve their defense and got some nice playmakers on offense. Now Norv must do something he hasn't over his entire career, have his team play consistent football.

My fear is the Manning thing will turn into the NFL feelgood story for the year, when that happens, it seems like those discretionary penalty flags always seem to go their way. 

I'll add, even though their schedule looks tough, if you had to play PIT, with their new faces, I'd have to think week 1 would be the best spot, at home even.. , N.O. ? no telling how that will shake out, us?, you never can tell who's going to show up. ATL , in a dome? PM should feel comfortable.

I have no idea how this season will shake out, I think its anyones division at this point

1 - Chargers.  Upgrades defensively , just need to eliminate idiotic mistakes offensively.

2 - Broncos.  Manning is good and will win a few he shouldn't.

3 - Chiefs.  Tough team with some good young talent.

4 - Raiders.  Palmer is over-rated and always has been.

Chargerhonk wrote: It's a selective memory thing....HA!

Happens every off-season. Just go back and read last off-seasons posts if you need more of a perspective.

Hey, the Chargers have improve their defense and got some nice playmakers on offense. Now Norv must do something he hasn't over his entire career, have his team play consistent football.

Its not a selective memory thing, its a......teams get better/worse from year to year, and if they didn't nothing in the league would ever change thing.

The Raiders fired their entire staff and lost Routt and Wimbley and added almost nothing, don't you don' think thats worth 2 more losses?