subject: Nfl Tickets - Afc West Preview [print this page] San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are again the favorite to win the West, but they shouldn't run away with it like we usually expect. The Bolts have some major question marks surrounding this team, namely the holdouts of left tackle Marcus McNeill and wideout Vincent Jackson. Both of these players play major roles for this team and would leave big shoes to fill if they were to stand firm concerning their contract status.
The Chargers will need receivers like Malcolm Floyd, Josh Reed and Legedu Naanee to step up in Jackson's absence, and a lot of passes are sure to go Antonio Gates' way. The team will look for rookie running back Ryan Mathews to shoulder much of the load on the ground, with Darren Sproles getting carries as well. The Bolts don't seem like the juggernaut they usually do this preseason, but maybe 2010 is the year they surprise us and finally break through in the postseason.
Oakland Raiders: The Raiders are actually pointed in the right direction and making some solid moves. Some experts think they'll challenge for the division. While that's probably a bit optimistic for the silver and black, the Raiders should be a better team in 2010 than last year. With Jason Campbell lining up under center, the Raiders finally have a capable quarterback running the show.
Campbell was solid yet unspectacular in his time in Washington, but he's definitely better than what Oakland had been working with. Young receivers like Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey still have a lot to prove, but they've also got plenty of talent between the two of them. Heyward-Bey has the speed and athleticism to make the kind of plays that sell NFL tickets, but he has to hone his skills as a receiver to be successful.
On the ground, we should see some sort of combination of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. While McFadden is the bigger name, I actually prefer Bush due to his versatility and inside running. McFadden just doesn't seem tough enough to be a feature back, while Bush could be the kind of guy that can shoulder 20 carries per game. On defense, the Raiders are a solid unit with playmakers at every level. This team could approach .500.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos seem to be a mediocre team in a lot of respects. Their quarterback is mediocre, their receiving corps is the same and their aging defense raises a lot of red flags. However, Josh McDaniels is a creative offensive coach, which should help make up for the first two things. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the number one wideout in Denver (my money would be on Jabar Gaffney) now that Brandon Marshall is a Dolphin. Kyle Orton isn't the long-term answer at quarterback, but he'll do for now. Expect to see Tim Tebow being used quite a bit, especially in short-yardage situations. If Knowshon Moreno can stay healthy and produce, this team could approach .500.
Kansas City Chiefs: I really like the way the Chiefs are building this team, but they're not quite ready to contend just yet. However, I do think we'll see a much better season out of Matt Cassel. Cassel actually didn't play that poorly in 2009 when one considers the pass protection he was given. Joe Montana couldn't throw passes from his back. With a solid one-two punch on the ground in Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, the Chiefs should have a solid offense if the line can improve. On defense, rookie safety Eric Berry will show flashes that help fans understand why the Chiefs paid him like a quarterback, but they've still got a lot of holes.
by: Pat Smith
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