Tucker’s AFC West Projections
By Tucker Harlin
The AFC West is the only division in the last 20 years that can say it has a franchise that’s won consecutive Super Bowls.
That said, the division is pretty weak when you get past the Kansas City Chiefs.
At best, it may produce a wild card team among the other three, but none of them are capable of going on deep runs.
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
There’s nothing controversial about this projection.
Patrick Mahomes is in his prime, and he still has his favorite target in Travis Kelce.
The wide receiver position was rough in 2023, but it should be getting better with the addition of Xavier Worthy in the draft and Hollywood Brown in free agency.
The Chiefs should be nothing less than champions of the division, and the playoff floor is probably the divisional round.
2. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
With all the losses on offense, I don’t love the Chargers on paper.
But I think there are a couple of pieces that can help them rise above the two non-Kansas City teams in the AFC West.
For one, they have a veteran quarterback in Justin Herbert who has proven himself a capable starter.
The second reason is Jim Harbaugh.
Hiring Harbaugh after winning a national title at Michigan was an attractive choice for NFL organizations that were looking for a coach.
Couple the title with a brief but successful tenure with the San Francisco 49ers (and Harbaugh wanting to run from an investigation) it was a decision both sides could get behind.
Knowing Harbaugh, I can’t imagine the Chargers will be as pass happy as they were under Brandon Staley. But the results should be more positive.
3. DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos have been in an ongoing experiment since Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset.
The issue is they haven’t found a stable option at quarterback. There was a lot of hope with Russell Wilson in 2022, but Wilson and Sean Payton did not mesh well.
The hope in 2024 is for Bo Nix and Sean Payton to gel the same way Payton did with Drew Brees in New Orleans.
I don’t think this is a year the Broncos can reach the playoffs, but they could win games they shouldn’t.
4. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
I have the Raiders in last because the situation is too uninspiring going into 2024.
For one, they removed Antonio Pierce’s interim tag and made him the head coach. He’s full of energy, but of all the guys you can remove the interim tag from this has to be one of the worst.
The other reason I have the Raiders in fourth is because of the quarterback position.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O’Connell weren’t viable options last season. The Raiders exchanged Garoppolo for another journeyman backup in Gardner Minshew and opted not to draft a quarterback.
Minshew should guarantee excitement in a handful of games, but he’s not a quarterback that will guide you to a winning season.
