By Tom Peters
Thanks to End Zoning
Sorry for the delay in the postings. An 80-minute commute and two kids under the age of three tend to take up your time.
So here is my report on the worst division in football, the AFC West.
Denver Broncos ( 5 – 4 )
How this team is not better than 5 – 4 is way beyond me. Jay Cutler has played well enough to win games. The tandem of Marshall & royal is one of the best in football and Shanahan can still create a decent running game. The problem is the inconsistencies of the running backs, there have benn number a number of different starters including Sunday’s starter Tatum Bell. The offensive line isn’t as solid as it used to be. Part of that is age, the other part is experience. The defense is terrible and has cost them a lot of games. I haven’t had confidence in picking them to win in the last few weeks and for the most part, they’ve proven me correct. A team that starts 4-0 and loses 4 of the next 5 does not deserve to be in first place, but when you have Oakland, Kansas City and San Diego in your division, it’s customary. This defense can’t get to the quarterback, the line is undersized and not as quick as they should be. The secondary is in shambles and they can’t force turnover, putting unnecessary pressure on the offense to win games.
Rest of the Season: They should win 3 of the last 7. I can see them beating Buffalo, Oakland & Kansas City. The last two wins would be huge and would give them a 4-2 record against the division. I know they’ll lose to the Jets, Falcons, & Panthers and I can see the Chargers beating them in the final game of the season. This should give them a record of 8-8 on the season.
Playoffs?:In this division, it’;s highly possible. It’s also going to depend on San Diego’s final record and how they do against the division. It might come down to that final game at Qualcomm and the divisional record tiebreaker.
San Diego Chargers ( 4 – 5 )
If this team were in a different division their season would be over. What the hell is going on with this team? I’ll tell you, it’s Norv Turner. When you have LaDanian Tomlinson on your team, run the damn ball!!! Philip Rivers has been ok, but he doesn’t have the receivers needed to take the focus of of Antonio Gates. If Martyball was back, this team is 6-3, maybe even 7-2. Chargers fan, including the incredibly hot Kendra Wilkinson (my favorite girl next door, see my posting about female football fans) will blame on of the losses on the blown call by Ed Hochuli. I don’t care about that. Stop them on the next play and it’s a non issue. This defense can’t stop anyone. You can’t blame the loss of Merriman, he doesn’t play in the secondary. An underachieving and inconsistent team does not deserve to be in the hunt.
Rest of the Season:This is the hardest team to predict because you don’t know which team you’re getting. Will you get the team that spanked the Jets & Patriots or the team the barely beat the Raiders & Chiefs? Based on their last 7 games, I see them going 3-4. I have them beating Oakland, Tampa Bay & Denver. I have them losing to Kansas City (1pm game on the road), Atlanta, Indianapolis & Pittsburgh, giving them a 7-9 record for the season.
WARNING!!!! It’s the Chargers, if any team could surprise me this year, it is them.
Playoffs?:Based on what I have now, no. But don’t count them out yet. You never know what Denver is going to do and you never know what the Bolts will do. These are two of the most inconsistent teams in the NFL and things could change. I do know one thing though, it will be Norv Turner’s last year in San Diego.
Oakland Raiders ( 2 – 7 )
If the Raiders want to win, Al Davis need to do one of two things. Retire or die. His meddling in this organization has hurt them since their Super Bowl loss in 2002. Lane Kiffin (the next coach at Tennessee) didn’t last more than four games. The first round draft picks haven’t carried their weight. JaMarcus Russell is not an NFL quarterback and he has terrible leadership skills, blaming his teammates for the losses. I hate to say this but going 6 – 19 with only 35 yards passing is not the receivers fault. The offensive line is offensive, the receiver do stink and the running game can’t move the ball and they have some of the better running backs in the league (Fargas, McFadden, Bush). If feel terrible for this defense. they get the turnovers and they’re back on the field 3 plays later. How does you intercept Jake Delhomme 4 times and only score 6 points? They might be the worst team in the NFL. How they beat the Jets is way beyond me.
Rest of the Season: They won’t win another game this season. They’ll go 2 – 14. The schedule isn’t that easy. They still have to play Denver, San Diego & Kansas City. Games against Tampa Bay, New England, Miami & Houston will challenge. If they win one of these games, it;ll be against Denver or Houston, but I don’t see it happening.
Playoffs?: Not until Al Davis dies.
Kansas City Chiefs ( 1 – 8 )
I’m starting to like this team even though I don’t like Herman Edwards. Mr. Draw Play on 3rd & 8. After the San Diego game, I think he said ‘We play to win one game’ I’m not going to slam him on this one. Your team is done for the season, you have a buttload of issues and you went for two on the road. What did he have to lose? Nothing, he might even get a higher draft pick out of the move. But, seriously, this team is steadily improving, even without Larry Johnson. Tyler Thigpen is completing more passes and throwing more more touchdowns. He’s not a terrible runner either. I think the return of Larry Johnson might retard his progress and hold him back. The receivers are decent and they do have a home-field advantage that is second to none. However, the defense is banged up and they do have some tough opponents coming up. Give them credit, they beat Denver and played the Jets & San Diego close, all of these are potential playoff teams. This is a young team that is steadily improving. If they could only get rid of Larry Johnson…….or make him clean Al Davis’ bedpan.
Rest of the Season: I have them winning 3 of the last 7. Wins against San Diego, Oakland & Cincinnati and losses against Denver, Buffalo, New Orleans & Miami will put them at 4 – 12 for the season. But look on the bright side…..they are improving.
Playoffs?: Not this year, but they will be better next year.
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