AFC West Preview: Broncos, Raiders, Chargers still chasing Kansas City

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Coach: Andy Reid (ninth twelvemonth — 91-37 regular season, 7-6 playoffs; 23rd twelvemonth wide – – 221-130-1 regular season, 17-15 playoffs).

2020 record: 14-2 (first successful AFC West; mislaid to Tampa Bay successful Super Bowl).

Defensive play-caller: Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo (third year).

Best player/best newcomer connected defense: DT Chris Jones/DL Jarran Reed. Jones’ declaration averages $20 million, 4th among interior antiaircraft linemen, and helium is simply a accordant unit (40 1/2 sacks successful 76 games). A reliable subordinate for Seattle (22 sacks successful 72 games), Reed joined the Chiefs to play successful their d-line rotation.

Key statistic: 63 — antagonistic plays by the defense, fewest successful the NFL.

Why they’ll decorativeness first: As agelong arsenic backmost Patrick Mahomes is healthy, the Chiefs volition stay the people of the AFC West. Kansas City was proactive successful rebuilding its violative line, acquiring 8 players, including near tackle Orlando Brown and guards Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. Safety Tyrann Mathieu leads the Chiefs’ secondary, who volition occasionally springiness up a batch of passing yards due to the fact that opponents are successful catch-up mode.

2. Los Angeles Chargers

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Donald Parham Jr. (89) of the Los Angeles Chargers stiff arms Michael Ojemudia (23) of the Denver Broncos during the 2nd fractional of Los Angeles’ 16-19 triumph astatine Sofi Stadium connected Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.

Coach: Brandon Staley (first year).

2020 record: 7-9 (third successful AFC West).

Defensive play-caller: Staley (first year).

Best player/best newcomer connected defense: DE Joey Bosa/CB Asante Samuel. Availability is the contented for Bosa, who has played much than 12 games lone doubly successful 5 years; helium has 47 1/2 sacks successful 63 games. Samuel was the Chargers’ second-round prime from Florida State.

Key statistic: 184 — plays allowed of astatine slightest 10 yards, fifth-fewest successful the league.

Why they’ll decorativeness second: The Chargers struck golden with backmost Justin Herbert past twelvemonth and they volition get a steadfast Austin Ekeler astatine moving back. Defensively, Staley, the erstwhile Broncos assistant, inherits a portion with Bosa, information Derwin James, linebacker Kenneth Murray and cornerbacks Chris Harris and Michael Davis. This is simply a squad connected the emergence and they’ll marque the playoffs arsenic a chaotic card.

3. Denver Broncos

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos escaped information Justin Simmons (31), right, celebrates with his teammates aft helium made an interception astatine Lumen Field connected Aug. 21, 2021 successful Seattle, Washington.

Coach: Vic Fangio (third year, 12-20 record).

2020 record: 5-11 (fourth successful AFC West).

Defensive play-caller: Fangio (third year).

Best player/best newcomer connected defense: S Justin Simmons/CB Pat Surtain II. Simmons hasn’t missed a antiaircraft drawback successful 3 years and was rewarded with a caller declaration averaging $15.25 million. Surtain, the ninth wide pick, was a ascendant subordinate for Alabama.

Key statistic: 47.5% — reddish portion defence touchdown rate, champion successful the league.

Why they’ll decorativeness third: Not … capable … offense. Again. Yes, the skill-position extent illustration is alternatively afloat with choky extremity Noah Fant and receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler. But their backmost concern is iffy. Defensively, the Broncos could beryllium elite aft adding Surtain and cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller, keeping extracurricular linebacker Von Miller and re-signing Simmons and antiaircraft extremity Shelby Harris.

4. Las Vegas Raiders

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos rushes the QB during the distant 4th arsenic they spell connected to bushed the Oakland Raiders 16 to 15 astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High connected Dec. 29, 2019 successful Denver.

Coach: Jon Gruden (fourth twelvemonth of 2nd circuit — 19-29 regular season; 15th wide — 114-110 regular season, 5-4 playoffs).

2020 record: 8-8 (second successful AFC West).

Defensive play-caller: Coordinator Gus Bradley (first year).

Best player/best newcomer connected defense: DE Maxx Crosby/DE Yannick Ngakoue. Crosby has 17 sacks successful 2 years for the Raiders. Ngakoue is connected his 4th squad successful little than a calendar twelvemonth aft rolling done Jacksonville, Minnesota and Baltimore successful 2020. He is reunited with Bradley, who was the Jaguars’ manager erstwhile Ngakoue was drafted.

Key statistic: 24 — rushing touchdowns allowed, second-most successful the league.

Why they’ll decorativeness fourth: The Raiders support chasing their tail. They mislaid 5 of six games precocious past twelvemonth to autumn retired of playoff contention and past opted to overhaul their violative enactment that wasn’t perceived arsenic a weakness. Bradley, formerly the coordinator for Seattle and the Chargers and Jacksonville’s ex-head coach, volition bring energy, but the Raiders are counting connected players similar Ngakoue and antiaircraft tackle Quinton Jefferson that were formed speech by their erstwhile teams.