2012 AFC West Preview

Sorry for being a little late on the 2012 AFC West Preview. I got lost watching Ocean's Thirteen. My bad.

1. Denver Broncos (9-7)

Head Coach: John Fox (2nd season w/ Broncos; 11 years total exp.)

Quarterback: Tim Tebow Peyton “Role Model” Manning (33 TD, 17 INT, 4700 YDS, 66.3 Cmp% in 2010; didn’t play last season)

Running Back: Willis “Knee Jerk Reaction” McGahee (1199 YDS, 4 TD)
Wide Receiver: Demaryius Thomas (32 Rec, 551 YDS, 4 TD); Eric Decker (44 Rec, 612 YDS, 8 TD); Andre Caldwell (37 Rec, 317 YDS, 3 TD)

Tight End: Jacob Tamme (19 Rec, 177 YDS, 1 TD)

Defensive Player: Von Miller (OLB; 11.5 SCK, 64 TCK)

Rookie to Watch: Brock Osweiler (QB; Arizona State) - Won’t be a starter this season or next, but has the tools to be an eventual starter if Peyton guides him.

I still don't know if I can get use to Manning's new colors. Talk about an interesting free agency period for Peyton Manning and the Broncos (this list predicted where he would go, and like most predictions, including mine, were wrong). Tim Tebow is out, and the future Hall of Famer is in. Fans still worry over Manning’s neck, although he isn’t too concerned. Obviously with the pass-efficient quarterback, expect the receiving numbers for the team to increase and the rushing yards to decrease. Six of Denver’s first eight games are against 2011 playoff teams (vs. PIT, @ ATL, vs. HOU, @ NE, vs. NO, @ CIN).

2. San Diego Chargers (8-8)

Head Coach: Norv “Will he ever be fired?” Turner (6th season w/ Chargers; 15 years total exp.)

Quarterback: Philip “No ACL Necessary” Rivers (27 TD, 20 INT, 4624 YDS, 62.9 Cmp%)

Running Back: Ryan Mathews (1091 YDS, 6 TD)
Wide Receiver: Malcom Floyd (43 Rec, 856 YDS, 5 TD); Robert Meachem (40 Rec, 620 YDS, 6 TD)

Tight End: Antonio Gates (64 Rec, 778 YDS, 7 TD)

Defensive Player: Eric Weddle (FS; 7 INT, 88 TCK)

Rookie to Watch: Melvin Ingram (DE; South Carolina) - Projected to play OLB as well, Ingram is a potential playmaker that can give quarterbacks fits.

Sing it with me: San Diego Mediocre Super Chargers! How does this team underachieve every single season? I’ll give you a hint: Norv Turner is the consistent factor; the same for GM A.J. Smith. Rivers had a bad season when comparing to his standards, and with WR Vincent Jackson gone, at least expect Floyd numbers to increase. Ryan Mathews is no Ladainian Tomlinson, but he is still a solid fantasy running back option. Once the Chargers miss the playoffs again, expect Turner and Smith to still be back. But this guy will still be a fan.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)

Head Coach: Romeo Crennel (2nd season w/ Chiefs; 6 years total exp.)

Quarterback: Matt Cassel (10 TD, 9 INT, 1713 YDS, 59.5 Cmp%)

Running Back: Jamaal Charles (1467 YDS, 5 TD in 2010 season), Peyton “Madden Cursed” Hillis (587 YDS, 3 TD)
Wide Receiver: Dwayne Bowe (81 Rec, 1159 YDS, 5 TD); Jonathan Baldwin (21 Rec, 254 YDS, 1 TD); Steve Breaston (61 Rec, 785 YDS, 2 TD)

Tight End: Tony Moeaki (47 Rec, 556 YDS, 3 TD in 2010 season)

Defensive Player: Tamba Hali (OLB; 12 SCK, 66 TCK)

Rookie to Watch: Dontari Poe (DT; Memphis) - One of these two words will summarize his career: boom or bust. He has the potential to be a force in the trenches if he was motivated for every play.

Is there a gleam to this team? Maybe. The Chiefs were the team to take down the then undefeated Green Bay Packers last season. Talk about the faces of the team going down last season. QB Matt Cassel, RB Jamaal Charles, and FS Eric Berry are coming back from a right throwing broken hand a torn ACL, and another torn ACL, respectively. Former head coach Todd Haley, now the offensive coordinator for the Steelers, probably wonders ‘what if’ if his star players could have stayed healthy. Expect Bowe to leave the team after this season.

4. Oakland Raiders (5-11)

Um, stranger danger?

Head Coach: Al Davis Dennis Allen (1st season w/ Raiders; rookie head coach)

Quarterback: Carson Palmer (13 TD, 16 INT, 2753 YDS, 60.7 Cmp%)

Running Back: Darren McFadden (614 YDS, 4 TD)
Wide Receiver: Darrius Heyward-Bey (64 Rec, 975 YDS, 4 TD); Denarius Moore (33 Rec, 618 YDS, 5 TD)

Tight End: Brandon Myers (16 Rec, 151 YDS, 0 TD)... I don’t think the Raiders know they have a tight end

Defensive Player: Tommy Kelly (DT; 7.5 SCK, 2 FF, 1 INT)

Rookie to Watch: Juron Criner (WR; Arizona) - When you don’t have a draft pick until the very end of the 3rd round, you have to talk about someone. That’s why I choose this potential #3 receiver from the 5th round.

Well, former owner Al Davis stepped down died. Sadly, that moment made this team potentially viable again. However, with a new head coach with no head coaching experience, stripped of draft picks to get an over-the-hill quarterback, and an injury-prone running back, this team will struggle. But at least the Raiders have the Black Hole, two awesome (and I assume beer-drinking) kickers, and this simple motto.

Next up: AFC North & South. Will be published by Tuesday, 9 pm. See you then!