The National Football League AFC West – 2009 Preview:
1 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Philip Rivers
| September |
| 14 at Oakland (W) |
| 20 BALTIMORE (L) |
| 27 MIAMI (W) |
| October |
| 4 at Pittsburgh (L) |
| 11 bye |
| 19 DENVER |
| 25 at Kansas City |
| November |
| 1 OAKLAND |
| 8 at NY Giants |
| 15 PHILADELPHIA |
| 22 at Denver |
| 29 KANSAS CITY |
| December |
| 6 at Cleveland |
| 13 at Dallas |
| 20 CINCINNATI |
| 25 at Tennessee |
| January |
| 3 WASHINGTON |
This was the year the Chargers were going to put it all together. Shawne Merriman would be back 100% to bolt the defense to go with a team that had superior special team and offensive units, BUT that has not happened. Once again the Chargers have dug themselves a hole. Their outing against the Steelers was woeful and reflective of just what has to be done to turn things around.
With Denver undefeated at 5-0, San Diego must climb back into it with a Monday night game hosting the Broncos. But with $12 million dollars of running backs (LT and Sproles) producing just over 50 yards a game, the offense falls to Philip Rivers to throw first and run later.
The defense has failed most significantly in putting pressure on the quarterback. While Shawne Merriman still isn’t 100% and run-stopper Jamal Williams out for the year, it is up to the others to step it up if San Diego has any hope of going deep into the playoffs.
2 DENVER BRONCOS
Eddie Royal
| September |
| 13 at Cincinnati (W) |
| 20 CLEVELAND (W) |
| 27 at Oakland (W) |
| October |
| 4 DALLAS (W) |
| 9 NEW ENGLAND (W) |
| 19 at San Diego |
| 25 bye |
| November |
| 1 at Baltimore |
| 9 PITTSBURGH |
| 15 at Washington |
| 22 SAN DIEGO |
| 26 at NY GIANTS |
| December |
| 6 at Kansas City |
| 13 at Indianapolis |
| 20 OAKLAND |
| 27 at Philadelphia |
| January |
| 3 KANSAS CITY |
Currently undefeated sitting atop the weak AFC WEST, things are looking pretty good in mile high Broncoland. If Denver beats San Diego in the Monday night game before their bye, the Broncos could wrap things up early.
Still Denver faces a tough schedule with games against the Super Bowl champ Steelers, the hungry Ravens, the Giants and Indy. But for now new coach Josh McDaniels has his team hitting on all cylinders. Coming form Chicago in the Jay Cutler deal, quarterback Kyle Orton is loving his great receiver tandem of Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall.
3 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Tackle Branden Albert
| September |
| 13 at Baltimore (L) |
| 20 OAKLAND (L) |
| 27 at Philadelphia (L) |
| October |
| 4 NY GIANTS (L) |
| 11 DALLAS (L) |
| 18 at Washington |
| 25 SAN DIEGO |
| November |
| 1 bye |
| 8 at Jacksonville |
| 15 at Oakland |
| 22 PITTSBURGH |
| 29 at San Diego |
| December |
| 6 DENVER |
| 13 BUFFALO |
| 20 CLEVELAND |
| 27 at Cincinnati |
| January |
| 3 at Denver |
The Chiefs, with a new coach, GM, quarterback and without hall-of-fame-to-be tight end Tony Gonzalez (off to Atlanta), is a team re-tooling with youngsters via early draft picks. This is exemplified by their defensive line including such first rounders as Tamba Hali, Tank Tyler and Turk McBride. This should help their noticeable lack of a pass rush for a squad that ranked 31st in the league last year on defense.
If the youth fulfill their promise here is a team of the future, but not a big threat at this stage.
4 OAKLAND RAIDERS
Nnamdi Asomugha
| September |
| 14 SAN DIEGO (L) |
| 20 at Kansas City (W) |
| 27 DENVER (L) |
| October |
| 4 at Houston (L) |
| 11 at NY Giants (L) |
| 18 PHILADELPHIA |
| 25 NY JETS |
| November |
| 1 at San Diego |
| 8 bye |
| 15 KANSAS CITY |
| 22 CINCINNATI |
| 26 at Dallas |
| December |
| 6 at Pittsburgh |
| 13 WASHINGTON |
| 20 at Denver |
| 27 at Cleveland |
| January |
| 3 BALTIMORE |
The old AFL is celebrating its 50th anniversary and while the Raiders are a proud franchise, they have frankly been woeful for some time and their play this year indicates no turnaround soon. The development of top pick JaMarcus Russell at quarterback has been slow-going.
Former offensive line coach Tom Cable, who took over the reins when Lane Kiffin was fired last September, has done an admirable job of trying to improve their porous defense, but still uncertainty abounds in just about every facet with the exception of a solid kicking tandem in Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler.
Denver is for real, despite our bad throwback uniforms. We can really create some separation with a win Monday night in San Diego.
The Broncos are poised to run away with the weak AFC West. Kyle Orton has got the same great weapons to throw to that Cutler did and the defense has surprised.
What happened to the “winningest ” team in por football? TYhe Raiders are a shame to the game. jaMarcus Russell needs to get fired up. He doesnt seem to be into it at all. Any “natural ” gifts he has so far have not really materialized into leadership.
We cant run with a$12 million dollar backfield, but San Diego can still win the weak AFC West by riding the arm of Rivers. We just need the defense to come around and it will. We have solid kicking and special team units to keep us in.
San Diego has been an overhyped team for years and the death knell for any talent they do have was the hiring of Norv Turner as head coach. He stinks!
There is no denying that Norv is better suited as an offensive coordinator and a rash of injuiries are not an excuse, but San Diego can still take the division. Certainly Monday’s night against Denver is a crucial early season game.