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AFC West Predictions 2007

News Type: Opinion — Sat Sep 8, 2007 10:30 PM EDT

Live Poll

Who Leads the AFC West

  • Denver Broncos
    33%
  • San Diego Chargers
    67%
  • Kansas City Chiefs
    0%
  • Oakland Raiders
    0%

Total Votes: 3

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Denver Broncos - 14-2

    Schedule

  1. L - at Buffalo
  2. W - Oakland
  3. W - Jacksonville
  4. L - at Indianapolis
  5. W - San Diego
  6. bye
  7. W - Pittsburgh
  8. W - Green Bay
  9. W - at Detroit
  10. W - at Kansas City
  11. W - Tennessee
  12. W - at Chicago
  13. W - at Oakland
  14. W - Kansas City
  15. W - at Houston
  16. W - at San Diego
  17. W - Minnesota

I recently visited Colorado for business. I will never underestimate the affect of high altitude and low oxygen again. It is the ultimate home field advantage.

I worry about second year quarterback Jay Cutler, but Mike Shanahan despite his weaknesses knows how to develop and protect a young quarterback. Hell, Brian Griese actually had a few good seasons under Shanahan. I see no reason that Cutler can't approximate the play of Phil Rivers last year.

14 wins may be a bit of a stretch, but this is a team that gets to play Oakland and Kansas City twice, the week NFC North, and the average AFC South.

San Diego Chargers - 8-8

    Schedule

  1. W - Chicago
  2. L - at New England
  3. W - at Green Bay
  4. W - Kansas City
  5. L - at Denver
  6. W - Oakland
  7. bye
  8. L - Houston
  9. W - at Minnesota
  10. L - Indianapolis
  11. L - at Jacksonville
  12. L - Baltimore
  13. W - at Kansas City
  14. L - at Tennessee
  15. W - Detroit
  16. L - Denver
  17. W - at Oakland

This isn't all Norv Turner's fault, but don't discount the worst coach this side of Art Shell. Oh, he'll be a boon to fantasy players. That's what Norv does, he makes offensive numbers look pretty. He's not so good at the winning however.

This 8-8 record won't be all Turner's fault. Some of it will be a harder schedule, a little regression to the mean, and a few less lucky breaks and a few more bad ones. You can't expect Tomlinson to break the scoring record again.

I'm also not sold on the defense. They can rush the passer with the best of them, and they are above average against the run, but their secondary is a huge weakness, and their linebackers have questionable coverage skills as well. Teams with good offensive lines and smart quarterbacks will be able to pick apart this defense.

Kansas City Chiefs - 5-11

    Schedule

  1. L - at Houston
  2. W - at Chicago
  3. L - Minnesota
  4. L - at San Diego
  5. L - Jacksonville
  6. W - Cincinnati
  7. W - at Oakland
  8. bye
  9. L - Green Bay
  10. L - Denver
  11. L - at Indianapolis
  12. W - Oakland
  13. L - San Diego
  14. L - at Denver
  15. W - Tennessee
  16. L - at Detroit
  17. L - at NY Jets

Things we've learned about the 2007 Kansas City Chiefs:

  • The quarterback "battle" between Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle was far less impressive than the hot wife battle between Mrs. Croyle and Mrs. Gonzalez.
  • Herman Edwards did a "TERRIBLE JOB" preparing his team.
  • They have no receivers who can actually catch the ball.
  • They have no kicker who can actually kick.
  • Larry Johnson has already seen the writing on the wall and probably isn't expecting all that many more productive seasons
  • The defense is cut their hands off bad.
  • There is no way this team has a winning schedule.

Oakland Raiders - 3-13

    Schedule

  1. L - Detroit
  2. L - at Denver
  3. L - Cleveland
  4. L - at Miami
  5. bye
  6. L - at San Diego
  7. L - Kansas City
  8. W - at Tennessee
  9. W - Houston
  10. L - Chicago
  11. L - at Minnesota
  12. L - at Kansas City
  13. L - Denver
  14. W - at Green Bay
  15. L - Indianapolis
  16. L - at Jacksonville
  17. L - San Diego

You'd think that just jettisoning Art Shell would be worth an additional 4 or so wins. But then you realize that this whole mess goes far deeper. There is a reason that Art Shell was hired in the first place. Probably the same reason that the team has already cut their third round pick, the first one of that round. Probably the same reason that the team has still yet to sign the number one overall pick and the odds grow greater by the day that they never sign him. This organization is in shambles. It is unbelievable that they were in the Super Bowl just a few years ago. Seems like ages...

Read more of my picks by watching the NFL Predictions 2007 tag.

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1.3
{"commentId":1010976,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}
gecko85

San Diego Chargers - 8-8

Well, they just got the first one...against the defending NFC Champion Bears.

{"commentId":1010976,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"tcervo"}
    Reply#1 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 7:10 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1011044,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
    Adam Hobson

    The same Bears I predicted them to win against, and the same Bears that I predict to go 6-10 this year.

    {"commentId":1011044,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
      #1.1 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 7:30 PM EDT
      {"commentId":1011230,"authorDomain":"tcervo"}
      gecko85

      We'll see. Chargers will go 12-4 this year, minimum.

      {"commentId":1011230,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"tcervo"}
        #1.2 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 8:44 PM EDT
        Reply
        {"commentId":1011079,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
        Kyle Baxter

        Woot for Denver in a literally last second, game-winning field goal!

        {"commentId":1011079,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
        • 1 vote
        Reply#2 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 7:45 PM EDT
        {"commentId":1011543,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
        Adam Hobson

        I never said they'd win pretty ;-)

        {"commentId":1011543,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}
          #2.1 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 10:57 PM EDT
          {"commentId":1011586,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}
          Kyle Baxter

          A win is a win, as far as this Denver fan is concerned.

          {"commentId":1011586,"threadId":"148526","contentId":"950503","authorDomain":"kyleb"}
            #2.2 - Sun Sep 9, 2007 11:09 PM EDT
            Reply
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