The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams in the lead-up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Today, we look at the AFC West. (Teams are listed in the order in which we believe they’ll finish in the 2020 standings.)
Kansas City Chiefs
2019 finish: 12-4, won the Super Bowl
The good news: Does winning the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years still count? Because they’re not that far removed from winning the Super Bowl. They also inked the best player in the league in Patrick Mahomes to a 10-year extension, which comes pretty darn close to ensuring he’ll spend his entire career in Kansas City. There’s a lot of continuity here, and this team enters the year at the top of all the power rankings.
The bad news: Well, they have to go out and win the Super Bowl again, don’t they? That kind of sucks. Like, imagine you buy your first house after years of saving and scrimping and what-not, and then a year later everyone you know wants to fight you for it. “It’s mine,” you’d say. But ha — you’d be wrong. Read the rules.
2020 opt-outs: Lucas Niang, OT; Damien Williams, RB; Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G
Your new favourite player: Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The slippery, versatile running back was chosen with the last pick of the first round of this year’s virtual NFL Draft, which looks even more prescient since incumbent starter Damien Williams elected to opt out of the season.
Player you’ll miss most: Take your pick of Kendall Fuller, the defensive back who left in free agency, or offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter, a Canadian medical-school grad, spent part of the off-season on the pandemic’s frontlines, and may continue that work this year.
Game you should be most excited about: @ Baltimore, Mon., Sept. 28. A primetime duel between 2019 Super Bowl MVP Mahomes and 2019 regular-season MVP Lamar Jackson, this might be the most anticipated game of the year — bar none. Fans get the matchup many thought would be last year’s AFC Championship Game.
Game you should be least excited about: vs. New England, Sun., Oct. 4. Would it surprise anyone if at this very moment Bill Belichick is sitting in a dark, refrigerated room, the neck of his hoodie up around his ears, expressionlessly watching Mahomes game film and plotting strategies to stop him? In what could be a lost season for the Pats, this might their Super Bowl. The Chiefs will be on slightly short rest here, too, after the above-mentioned early-season epic.
2020 season prediction: 12-4, lose in the Super Bowl
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Denver Broncos
2019 finish: 7-9, missed playoffs
The good news: It’s extremely early yet, but Drew Lock might — might — be the franchise quarterback Denver has been waiting for. After he started taking the snaps last season, the Broncos won four of their final five games. Helping him reach his potential will be priority No. 1 for new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who came to Denver after two seasons as head coach of the New York Giants. If this team can add an improved offence to arguably the AFC West’s best defence (apologies, Chargers), you’ve got the makings of a playoff team.
The bad news: The bulk of Lock’s 2019 numbers came in the first two of the five games he played. In those two games, he put up five touchdowns versus two interceptions; in the final three, he had just two TDs against one INT. If he’s really the quarterback of the future here, he’ll need to be more aggressive and confident going downfield.
2020 opt-outs: Ja’Wuan James, OT; Kyle Peko, DT
Your new favourite player: Jerry Jeudy. Selected 15th overall in the draft, he could immediately slot in as the No. 1 receiver in Denver (at worst he’ll be the No. 2 behind Courtland Sutton), and will hope to develop quick chemistry with Lock.
Player you’ll miss most: A mainstay on the Denver defensive line the past eight years, Derek Wolfe left for Baltimore in free agency. The team replaced him with Christian Covington, but will have their work cut out to not lose a step against the run.
https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1250108116508827654
Game you should be most excited about: vs. Tennessee, Mon., Sept. 14. Trying to prove you’re for real? How about a Week 1 Monday nighter versus a Titans team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship game last season? The Mile High elevation gives the Broncos additional advantage here. Snagging the win would be huge for their overall outlook.
Game you should be least excited about: @ New York Jets, Thurs., Oct. 1. Not that playing the Jets in an empty building seems like a particular difficult task, mind you. I just can’t get jazzed up for a short-rest matchup between two of the five worst offences from 2019.
2020 season prediction: 9-7, miss playoffs
Las Vegas Raiders
2019 finish: 7-9, missed playoffs
The good news: The Raiders have finally arrived in Las Vegas, and the painful, drawn-out process of splitting with Oakland is finally over. What’s more, Derek Carr is coming off his best season as a pro, in which he amassed 21 touchdowns to eight interceptions, and his first 100-plus QB rating. He also sounds like a man on a mission. Meanwhile, second-year defensive end Maxx Crosby blew away expectations in year one (finishing behind only Nick Bosa in DROY voting), and is ready to lead the team on the defensive side of the ball.
The bad news: They may have a new city, but they’ll have to wait another year before introducing themselves to their local market. The team announced in early August that the newly built Allegiant Stadium will remain closed to fans for this season.
2020 opt-outs: Ukeme Eligwe, LB; D.J. Killings, DB; Jeremiah Valoaga, DE
Your new favourite player: The Raiders spent a ton of draft capital on receivers this year, so chances are excellent your new favourite player will be one of Henry Ruggs (selected 12th overall in this year’s draft), Lynn Bowden Jr. (80th overall) and Bryan Edwards (81st). Ruggs was a bit of a surprise as the first WR off the board, as Pro Football Focus had him as just the third best receiver in the draft after Jerry Jeudy (Denver) and CeeDee Lamb (Dallas), but Raiders owner Mark Davis called the Alabama product the “only person I wanted.”
Yeah, @__RUGGS can do a LOT more than just run fast. pic.twitter.com/KUMzHWER8s
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 7, 2020
Player you’ll miss most: Fantasy players will remember running back DeAndre Washington (who could be in the conversation for No. 2 on the depth chart in Kansas City) as an occasionally trendy waiver-wire pickup. But this was an overcrowded backfield behind Josh Jacobs as it was, and, moreover, the Raiders didn’t lose many significant contributors this past off-season.
Game you should be most excited about: @ Kansas City, Sun., Oct. 11: The Raiders were the very definition of a middling, forgettable team in 2019. If they’re going to alter that perception this year, what better time to start than with a Week 5 matchup (ahead of a bye week) against the defending Super Bowl champs? A revamped linebacking corps should potentially help out here.
Game you should be least excited about: @ Denver, Sun., Jan. 3. Playing in the thin air at Mile High on the final week of the season, when 1) they might desperately need a win, and 2) they will likely be gassed along with every other team in the league? Feels … unfortunate.
2020 season prediction: 9-7, miss playoffs
L.A. Chargers
2019 finish: 5-11, miss playoffs
The good news: Well, it happened — the Chargers finally turned the page, parting ways with offensive cornerstones Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon. Despite a trip to the divisional round in 2018, this team had finished with five or fewer wins three times in the last five seasons, and an overhaul was inevitable. But L.A. brass smartly didn’t purge the whole roster. Instead, they locked up Joey Bosa with a five-year, $135-million extension (which includes a defensive-player-record $102 million in guaranteed cash), ensuring the anchor of the defence will be around long term. Said defence, which also features Melvin Ingram, Derwin James and a host of newcomers, looks formidable.
The bad news: The offence does not. While the team drafted Oregon QB Justin Herbert sixth overall, Tyrod Taylor is likely to start the season. And while Taylor isn’t likely to make a lot of mistakes, he also isn’t going to win you games, which puts a lot of pressure on the likes of Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen to make things happen on their own.
2020 opt-outs: None
Your new favourite player: A speedster out of Oklahoma the Chargers traded up 14 spots to select in the draft, Kenneth Murray will bolster an already formidable linebacking corps. He’s currently among the favourites to win defensive rookie of the year.
Player you’ll miss most: Rivers. Many fans were clearly ready to move on, but Rivers amassed more than 59,000 passing yards in a Chargers uniform, and that total is currently good for sixth all time. (Assuming decent health, Rivers will pass Dan Marino at some point this season to reach the top five.) There was a long history here, and it will be weird to see another signal caller under centre in Week 1.
Game you should be most excited about: @ Cincinnati, Sun., Sept. 13. This defence versus a rookie quarterback in a Week 1 showdown, even on the road? Chalk 1-0 up right now. Heading into Week 2, we’re going to be talking about the undefeated L.A. Chargers.
Game you should be least excited about: vs. Kansas City, Sun., Sept. 20. This offence trying to play catch-up against Mahomes and the Chiefs? Week 2 will be a reality check that shows us all just how far from contention this team really is.
2020 season prediction: 6–10, miss playoffs
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