I'm basing off my predictions from the schedules.
Chargers: 12-4 (13-3/11-5). I think the drop off from losing VJ and McNeill will be balanced out by a younger RB and improved running game. Not to mention that Hardwick is fully back from injury. As for the defense, it is the same unit that played and contributed to finishing off the season on a 11 game winning streak. Defense does not need to be great, just need to make key stops and that they have proven they can do.
Win: @KC, JAX, @SEA, AZ, @STL, NE, TEN, DEN, OAK, KC, SF, @DEN
Lose: @OAK, @HOU, @IND, @CIN
Raiders: 8-8 (10-6/6-10). Definitely an adequate QB is already an improvement from JRuss at the helm. A more than adequate QB like Campbell, then means at least three more wins and that's where I'm putting them. Of course it's not all credited to Campbell of course, with an improved DLine the Raiders won't simply get runned on like last year. I have my spread on a peak of 10-6 and Raiders even making the Wildcard slot, but this all in lies with how well their skill players play. Mike Bush we all know can bang but can he do it with 15+ carries a game? Will DMac finally show up, because he's only had one good game his whole career. And will the young, talented, but inexperienced WRs play enough to keep the chains moving?
Win: STL, @AZ, SD, @DEN, SEA, KC, @JAX, DEN
Lose: @TEN, HOU, @SF, @PITT, MIA, @SD, @IND, @KC
Chiefs: 7-9 (8-8/6-10). Definitely a way better offense than last year. With the bruiser RB that they were missing since prime LJ added to the squad and some veteran pros added to the OLine, this squad will definitely be able to light up a scoreboard. But this was not their problem last year, it was the DLine and frankly they did not really do anything to fix this. They are banking on two former first rounders to live up to the potential that they saw but I don't see it. They might play better than last year, but not good enough to get too far. Eric Berry is a stud safety though for sure, but he doesn't play DLine.
Win: @CLE, SF, BUF, AZ, @SEA, DEN, @STL
Lose: SD, @IND, @HOU, JAX, @OAK, @DEN, @SD, TEN, @OAK
Broncos: 4-12 (6-10/2-14). If it wasn't for the Doom injury and Clady not being ready for the season then I would definitely have Broncos up there vying for second place in the AFC West, but it seems like the football gods went on and hurt the Broncos this offseason. Not only that but their top two receiving options are gone and their passing offense has pretty much become the bottom dweller of the division. With nagging injuries to their drafted WRs and top two RBs, this team might end up with the number one pick next year. Looking at the schedule, I doubt they can pull another 6-0 start this season.
Win: SEA, KC, STL, @AZ
Lose: @JAX, @IND, @TEN, @BAL, NYJ, OAK, @SF, @SD, @KC, @OAK, HOU, SD
Learn, discuss and debate what's going on with the teams in the NFL's AFC Western Division minus the hate, immaturity and stupidity found on the ESPN Blog or anywhere else.
Ok, not too bad. Here is my counter.
ReplyDeleteChargers: 10-6
W: @KC, JAX, @SEA, ARZ, @STL, TEN, DEN, OAK, KC, @DEN
L: @OAK, NE, @HOU, @IND, SF, @CIN
*: Chargers benefit from easy schedule, but still feel loss of Jackson and McNeil. Lose games they should win @OAK and vsNE. Drop a heart-breaker against a hot SF team at home.
Raiders: 8-8
W: @TEN, STL, @ARZ, SD, SEA, KC, @JAX, DEN
L: HOU, @SF, @DEN, @PIT, MIA, @SD, IND, @KC
*: Raiders start hot because of week schedule. Cool off as the season goes. Split with the whole division.
Chiefs: 8-8
W: @CLE, JAX, BUF, @DEN, ARZ, DEN, @STL, OAK
L: SD, SF, @IND, @HOU, @OAK, @SEA, @SD, TEN
*: Chiefs offense will be good enough against bad teams, but defense will cost them against good teams. Expect a ton of big plays for and against them.
Broncos: 5-11
W: SEA, @TEN, OAK, STL, @ARZ
L: @JAX, IND, @BAL, NYJ, @SF, KC, @SD, @KC, @OAK, HOU, SD
*: Injuries take too much of a toll on the team. Manage to steal a game from an up and down TEN squad.
Looking at your post we pretty much have the same games. I do hope its a hot SF team coming in to the Q on week 15 because I have so many friends here that are niner fans haha, should be a good game. I think the only big discrepancy is you have TEN losing to Broncos and Raiders. I gave those games to TEN mainly because running team against two of the weaker run defenses in the league. Raiders has a better Dline this year, but the Broncos certainly do not.
ReplyDeleteI'm predicting both of those because I think TEN will be an up and down team all year. I see them winning and losing games they shouldn't. The reason they win will be because of CJ and the run game. The reason they lose will be because of the dependency on CJ and the run game.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I like what the Raiders have done for their run defense. I think they stack the box and make Vince Young try and beat them. The Denver game is where I see McDaniels pulling out all the stops like he did early on last year. I hope they do win that game, otherwise I will drastically change my predictions and have them falling even further as the season drags on. If they lose to TEN, I see them losing a lot of pride as the losses begin to mount. They could easily finish 2-14 if they don't get that win. That's how much I think these injuries could affect them.
JEFFFREE - solid post i have tenn being beat by oak , sd , kc has an outside chance and den im not so sure !
ReplyDelete