Most experts seem to think that in 2010 the AFC West will be dominated once again by the San Diego Chargers, but I’m not so sure. The Chargers on paper still appear to be the best team in the division, but age, attrition and their lack of postseason success could catch up to them this season. I really don’t see how they can trade the player their offense was built around for so many years, LaDainian Tomlinson, and plug in a rookie and continue on without missing a beat. LT’s production had fallen off the last couple of years but he was still a focal point of the franchise. Now this is really QB Philip Rivers’ team, and he still has a dependable weapon in tight end Antonio Gates, but the team’s new downfield threat, Vincent Jackson, is facing a suspension and may be traded. There were also some significant losses on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers are still the team to beat in the division, but are far from an automatic pick. Coach Josh McDaniels’ Denver Broncos came flying out of the gate last year and looked like they were going to run away with the division, then came crashing down to earth in the second half of the season. If they can stabilize the QB situation and get consistent play there, whether it be from Brady Quinn, incumbent Kyle Orton or rookie Tim Tebow, they could find their way back to the top of the division, and possibly stay there this year. I feel the trade of receiver Brandon Marshall to Miami is a case of addition by subtraction. The Kansas City Chiefs are an intriguing team also. After San Diego with Rivers, they may have the best QB with Matt Cassel. Cassel was inconsistent last year but the year’s experience and the addition of new coordinator Charlie Weis should help elevate his game. The addition of Weis was part of a major revamping of coach Todd Haley’s entire staff that looks like it will make the team stronger. RB Jamaal Charles is a dynamic player and Thomas Jones was signed away from the Jets to add a tough inside running threat to the team’s arsenal. They had a strong draft also, and if their defense can tighten up against the run, they should be in the running to win this division also. The dysfunctional Oakland Raiders bring up the rear in the West. At least they finally cut ties with Jamarcus Russell as their QB of the future. Jason Campbell, acquired from Washington, is an upgrade over Russell but still a question mark. The Raiders have too many highly-touted past draft choices who have underachieved – Darren McFadden and Darius Heyward-Bey being at the top of that list. The team did add stud linebacker Rolando McClain to a solid defense led by veteran Richard Seymour and CB Nnambi Asomugha. The play of the defense will keep them competitive in all of their games, and they may make enough noise in the interdivisional games to help decide who comes out on top of the AFC West, but don’t have the horses or the coaching staff to win it.
