Standings
1. San Diego Chargers (13-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
3. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
4. Denver Broncos (3-13)
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Philip Rivers (QB, San Diego)
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Nnamdi Asomugha (CB, Oakland)
Addition With Biggest Impact: Jason Campbell (QB, Oakland)
Mr. Irrelevant: Tim Tebow (QB, Denver)
Since future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson developed his Old Man Leg Syndrome last season, the San Diego Chargers became quarterback Philip Rivers' team all the way. Over the past two seasons, Rivers has proved that he is a stellar quarterback who makes few mistakes. His talent and leadership alone should be enough to help the Chargers dominate this otherwise atrocious division, though perhaps my 13-3 prediction might be a bit too optimistic. Supposedly rookie running back Ryan Matthews could be another LT, but I don't know that I buy that yet. Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson give this team one of the NFL's best passing attacks. The defense hasn't lived up to potential the past few seasons, and that might have everything to do with outside linebacker Shawne Merriman being injury prone and also a complete psycho. If he returns to form this year, they could be quite devastating, especially with Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper coming into their own.
Two seasons ago, quarterback Matt Cassel was a New England Patriot and took over that offense when Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury. While I wouldn't be surprised if it was the system, staff and the rest of the offense that made him good, I still think he deserves a chance to prove he can lead an NFL team. If the Kansas City Chiefs even had just slightly better receivers, that would offer him considerable help, but alas, they really don't. Jamaal Charles came out of nowhere to rush for 968 yards in the final eight weeks of last season, and I am totally buying into the hype; he could be a star. Let's just hope the situation doesn't turn into another Larry Johnson-esque debacle. Bringing in Thomas Jones from the New York Jets to help out with the running game was a brilliant move, as he inexplicably seems to run better as he gets older. There is nothing worth mentioning defensively about this team aside from they made a great decision in the first round of the draft, picking up safety Eric Berry.
It's hard to imagine the Oakland Raiders ever being good again. The staff seems to have no idea how to draft. Nabbing quarterback Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins should definitely improve the situation there, but it's not like he's great or anything, so only slightly. Zach Miller and Michael Bush are talented, but aside from that, this offense just sucks. Losing Greg Ellis and Kirk Morrison hurts their defense. Defensive end Richard Seymour is a great leader but isn't by any means a statistical monster. Neither is corner back Nnamdi Asomugha for that matter, but that's only because he is so good at his position that quarterbacks rarely throw towards him.
Last year I predicted the Denver Broncos to go 2-14, and they ended up opening the season with a 6-0 record before only winning two out of the final ten games. However, I'll go ahead and say that this year they really should be terrible. No more Brandon Marshall drama, but that also means no more pure talent on that offense. I think Kyle Orton is a fine quarterback, and adding Brady Quinn as backup wasn't such a bad idea, despite the fact that he has been awful so far in his career. Running back Knowshon Moreno could end up being pretty good, but I don't think anything more than that. Drafting Tim Tebow in the first round was one of the stupidest moves I could imagine. But, maybe we're all wrong about him. Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil took his game to the next level last year by accumulating 17 quarterback sacks, and their secondary is old but pretty awesome thanks to Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins.
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