Chiefs’ AFC West foes aim to unseat the champs. Here are the moves they’ve made.
The Chiefs have enjoyed the view from atop the AFC West for four straight seasons, while the gap between division titles for the other teams varies greatly.
Denver had won five straight division titles from 2011-15, while the Chargers were in San Diego when last crowned champions (2006-09). The Raiders’ drought is now approaching 20 years, having last won the AFC West in 2002.
All three of the Chiefs’ AFC West opponents missed the playoffs last season. They’ll be gunning to rectify that and take down Kansas City. Here’s what to know about the changes that have taken place in the division.
Denver Broncos
2019 record: 7-9
2020 strength of schedule: 12th most difficult (.512 opposing winning percentage)
Starting quarterback: Drew Lock. This is the former Lee’s Summit/Mizzou star’s team now. Lock started the final five games last season and the Broncos were 4-1. The lone loss came to the Chiefs.
Key additions: The Broncos selected speedy receivers in April’s draft taking Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy in the first round and Penn State’s KJ Hamler in the second round. Courtland Sutton is back, too. Denver also signed former Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, and drafted former Mizzou tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, giving Lock plenty of weapons around him. Denver also traded for former Jaguars Pro Bowl cornerback A.J. Bouye and five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey from the Titans.
Quote of note: “The thing about Kansas City is they have a lot of reps and a lot of games under their belt, and we’re a pretty young team. We have three rookies that are probably going to have to come in and make a big difference for us on the offensive side of the ball, and those guys just went all the way and won the Super Bowl. So we’ve got a lot of work to be the Kansas City Chiefs but with the weapons in place, there is a potential to do that.” — Drew Lock
Las Vegas Raiders
2019 record: 7-9
2020 strength of schedule: 21st most difficult (.496 opposing winning percentage)
Starting quarterback: Derek Carr. A motivated Carr will take the field in 2020 as he told reporters in August he’s tired of being disrespected and wants to lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl. He’s coming off his best season in terms of quarterback rating (100.8).
Key additions: The Raiders drafted wide receivers with three of their first four picks (Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III, South Carolina’s Bryan Edwards and Lynn Bowden Jr. who has been likened to” a Percy Harvin-type asset who led the SEC in all-purpose yards per game last year,” per Athlon Sports. They also added rookie cornerbacks in Damon Arnette and Amik Robertson, Additionally, they signed quarterback Marcus Mariota as insurance for Carr.
Quote of note: “We’ve gotten faster, we’ve gotten better. We feel like we can compete with them. ... We’re getting closer, (but) the problem with the Chiefs is that they don’t lose any players. It’s rare that you can win a championship and your team together. I don’t know what their salary cap is, but I’m gonna investigate that. They’ve done a great job keeping that team together.” — Raiders coach Jon Gruden to Sports Illustrated
Los Angeles Chargers
2019 record: 5-11
2020 strength of schedule: 23rd most difficult (.492 opposing winning percentage)
Starting quarterback: Tyrod Taylor. He worked with Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn in Buffalo for two years when Lynn was the Bills’ assistant head coach and Taylor threw six passes for the Chargers last season. LA also drafted former Oregon star Justin Herbert, who could be the starter at some point.
Key additions: The Chargers defense, which was fifth in yards allowed but 14th in points, signed former Broncos star cornerback Chris Harris, who played at KU. LA signed former Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga and will move Sam Tevi from right tackle to left tackle. The Chargers also traded for Panthers guard Trai Turner. LA drafted Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray in the first round and took UCLA running back Joshua Kelley in the fourth round.
Quote of note: “It’s always tough when you play the Chiefs, but I know we’ve got a defense that definitely should be in the top and you’ve got to be able to slow them down. I know we’ve got offensive guys with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, (Austin) Ekeler, Hunter Henry, so I know we’ve got talent on offense, and we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do that way. But I know (with) defense, we’ve got definitely a chance to win the AFC West.” — Harris on the NFL Network
