How Does the Rest of the AFC West Catch Kansas City?
Photo Credit: Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Chiefs are inevitable.
It’s late January, and you know what that means: The Chiefs are AFC Champions. Even though this Chiefs team was as vulnerable as we’ve seen them in this era, it still wasn’t enough to keep them out of the conference title game, which they won over the Baltimore Ravens. Kansas City is once again on the precipice of a Lombardi Trophy.
One of the reasons that the Chiefs had the opportunity to make this run is the division they play in. Despite having some critical flaws, the Chiefs are worlds ahead of the rest of the AFC West, who all had down years of their own. The Raiders, Broncos and Chargers are all at crossroads of sorts, and all share the dread of looking up and seeing the Chiefs. They all need talent, management, and luck to catch Kansas City. Let’s take a look at what these squads need most to snatch the AFC West crown.
Las Vegas Raiders: For AP to be the right hire
Photo Credit: Kyle Terada/Sports Illustrated
Figures. The Raiders are in a strange spot as a team that has mostly stuck together through a lot of change. A lot of faces who came in with departed coaches, from Kolton Miller to Jakobi Meyers, have stayed and contributed to wins. The closest the team has come to a full blowup was earlier this season, after owner Mark Davis pulled the plug on Josh McDaniels and instituted Antonio Pierce as head coach. Wouldn't you know it, the Raiders made a run with Pierce at the helm, and instituted such a successful culture that he has won the team’s head coaching job. For the Raiders, a leader who can steady this ship of mish-mashed talent is more important than anything, even the uncertainty at quarterback or the questionable reputation of ownership. In a short amount of time, Pierce has won over the Raiders faithful and locker room. Now, he has to prove he’s more than a flash in the pan.
Denver Broncos: To find a franchise quarterback
Photo Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Welcome back to the Broncos QB carousel from hell. If you’re a Denver fan, then odds are you are stunned that the team is back in this position. Less than two years ago, Russell Wilson landed in Denver with the expectation the Broncos were ready to compete for Super Bowls. Instead, Wilson is going to be cut in March and the team has a void under center again. Right now, Denver’s odds of finding a permanent solution to the problem this offseason seem low. They don’t pick high enough in the draft to land top flight talents, and there isn’t much momentum for the team to select another signal-caller. Barring a stunning trade-up, the Broncos are going back to the veteran well to band-aid the QB spot. They may take a shot at a prospect they like on day 2, or even wait until 2025 to make a big move for a young quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers: For Dean Spanos to get it right
Photo Credit: AP Photo
It’s time for the buck to stop at the big guy. Chargers fans have sat and watched owner Dean Spanos make bad decision after bad decision to drive this team’s ceiling down for years. His negative workplace practices, in addition to his pitiful decision making, have brought his team back to the league’s cellar. The good news is he’s convinced Jim Harbaugh to come coach for him. Harbaugh has a reputation as a positive presence in a program and a designated culture-changer. For a team like the Chargers, that’s fantastic news! Problem is? For Harbaugh to change the team in the way he wants to, Spanos will likely have to get out of the way. That may be easier said than done for the Chargers owner, who’s ego has played a large part in his team’s misfortunes. Maybe Spanos’s hire signals a willingness to change. Chargers fans sure hope so, because if he isn’t, Bolt Nation will find themselves back in this spot again.
