We have reached the final division preview, and we saved one of best for last. The AFC West sent two teams to the playoffs last year, and one of the teams in the division won a Super Bowl the year before that. There are no weak teams in the division, but one must win, and one must finish last, however it will be a tight race.

Team 1: The Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are one of the most well rounded teams in the league. Their offence is great, and their defence is elite. Under Andy Reid’s expert coaching, this team can take the AFC West for the second year running.

QB Alex Smith is criminally underrated, with some even suggesting that rookie Patrick Mahomes II should start over him, but that is a ridiculous idea. Smith is easily a top 15 QB, and can lead the Chiefs to many wins this season. He has no shortage of targets either, with All-Pro Travis Kelce being among the best in his position, as he led the league in receiving yards for a TE last year. Dynamic youngster Tyreek Hill leads the receiving corps, after a fantastic first season in which he too was named to the All-Pro squad. The loss of Jeremy Maclin to Baltimore does hurt the offence, but it should still be able to threaten even the most fearsome defences. The offensive-line is average, but should be able to give Smith a decent amount of protection, and create openings for RB’s Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs have just as many stars. Linebacker Justin Houston has been to 4 Pro Bowls, and built a reputation as one of the best defenders in the league. FS Eric Berry proved himself to be a warrior both on and off the field, after fighting off cancer and earning two All-Pro selections in as many years. The defence will also be strengthened by rookie Tanoh Kpassagnon (who really needs an easier to spell nickname) as the DE was taken in the 2nd round of the draft.

With defences and offences both in the top 10 of the league, the Chiefs will be a true threat in this league. I expect them to win the AFC West, beating out tough opposition.

Key Player: Eric Berry

One to Watch: Tanoh Kpassagnon

Expected Record: 12-4

Team 2: The Oakland Raiders

The Raiders may be moving to Vegas soon, but for now they are still situated in Oakland, and this season marks the return of one of the cities favourite sons, Marshawn Lynch. Lynch has been out of the game for a while, but the return of ‘Beast Mode’ is still cause for excitement, even at the age of 31. Lynch will link up with QB Derek Carr, who was briefly the highest paid player in the NFL this offseason, and WR’s Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree in order to form one of the best offences in the league. The offence also features a great line, which includes Pro Bowlers Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn.

The defence isn’t short of talent either. Obviously the reigning defensive player of the year Khalil Mack is the star of the D, but he is not without help. Rookie CB Gareon Conley and rookie SS Obi Melifonwu will both bolster the secondary, meaning that while Mack stops things in the trenches, passes will be cut out by the defensive backs.

Rounding up this team is the Raiders legend, kicker Janikowski. With a strong kicker, this roster has talent in all areas. It isn’t quite on par with the Chiefs, but it is certainly close.

Key Player: Khalil Mack

One to Watch: Obi Melifonwu

Expected Record: 10-6

Team 3: The LA Chargers

The worst team in the division last season will improve this year, and will move out of the bottom spot. The San Diego Los Angeles Chargers are lucky enough to possess last years defensive rookie of the year, Joey Bosa, and a QB who consistently puts up numbers in an unsuccessful team, Phillip Rivers. Along with Rivers, the offence also features a dangerous RB, Melvin Gordon, who was selected to the Pro Bowl last year. Keenan Allen, Travis Benjamin, and rookie Mike Williams form a talented WR trio, and future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates occupies the TE position. The o-line will be better prepared to protect Rivers this season, after the selection of guard Forrest Lamp early in the 2nd round of the draft.

On defence the Chargers are weaker, but not without talent. The aforementioned DE Joey Bosa was dominant last year, and can only get better. In the secondary, CB Casey Hayword was selected to his first Pro Bowl last year, and the confidence this brings will help him build on his performance this year.

The Chargers are a step below the Raiders and the Chiefs, but that does not mean they are a bad team. They have potential, but in a talented division, I can’t see them finishing with a winning record.

Key Player: Joey Bosa

One to Watch: Mike Williams

Expected Record: 7-9

Team 4: The Denver Broncos

Nothing to do with the roster, but an amazing photo

Controversial opinion time: The Broncos will finish the season at the bottom of the AFC West. I know they won the Super Bowl just 2 seasons ago, and they do still have a great defence, but that is not enough in this league. You need an offence. Now some people will say “They won the Super Bowl with no offence!”, but what was practically a zombie Manning was still an above average QB, while no one on the current roster is. Every other starting QB in the AFC West is a top 15 player in the position, but this is not the case for Denver. In fact, it is still not clear who will start Week 1 for the Broncos, with a choice of either Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler or Trevor Sieman. A team can not succeed without a good quarterback, which is why it is the most important position in football.

The rest of the offence is not as good as it first appears either. While RB C.J Anderson is talented, new signing Jamaal Charles is injury prone and old for a running-back. He can be special when on the field, but that is not often. WR’s Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are not the elite threats they used to be, partly due to ageing, as they will both be over 30 come the end of the season. The Broncos top TE, Virgil Green, has scored only 3 TD’s in his career, which is 3 more than the other Denver TE’s combined.

Defensively, things are much better for the Broncos.Von Miller is as good as ever, and a secondary featuring Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. must always be feared. Still, the release of T.J. Ward seems like a bad move, and the fact that he blasted the organisation as handling the release in a “completely unprofessional manner” makes me slightly biased against Denver.

I think Denver is in trouble. They need to revamp their offence with younger stars in order to win another Super Bowl. Their current defence is scary, but it is ageing, so they must move quickly to build a new offence and capitalise off this D, and win another Lombardi Trophy.

Key Player: Von Miller

One to Watch: Demarcus Walker

Expected Record: 7-9

Interesting side note: The key player for every AFC West team is a defender. Defence wins championships.