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AFC
WEST |
| Jim's
Outlook |
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Cyd's
Outlook |
DENVER
BRONCOS
Outlook: In Eddie We Trust should be
the Broncos' motto. Denver collapsed after receiver Ed McCaffrey
broke his leg in the 2001 season opener. This is the same Ed whose
wife told NFL Films that her husband's jock "is a very large one.
That's why the shoulder pads look so small." With McCaffrey back,
quarterback Brian Griese should settle down and be productive
again. The offense will be fine and defense decent. These aren't
the Super Bowl Broncos of '97-'98 but they'll be OK.
Forecast: The Broncos ride off with the AFC West
title. |
1 |
DENVER
BRONCOS
Outlook: Coach Mike Shanahan is an "offensive
genius." But, the loss of Terrell Davis is a big
one. Not only that, but Brian Griese now has the attention
of every defense he plays and sputtered badly last season.
The only real leadership on offense from their Super Bowl
championships is Shannon Sharpe, who has been gone for two
years. Ray Rhodes is a "defensive genius."
And their defense should be better.
Forecast: 11-5 Back to the playoffs. |
SAN
DIEGO CHARGERS
Outlook: The Chargers will start
second-year QB Drew Brees in place of Doug Flutie as the Marty
Schottenheimer Era begins. It's a good move. San Diego is a
mystery team, blessed with a solid defense but question marks
elsewhere. As you can tell, I have no idea what to say about them.
Forecast: Beats me. All I know is that
Schottenheimer has had only one losing season in 15 years of
coaching. |
2 |
SAN
DIEGO CHARGERS
Outlook: Marty, Marty, Marty. The man is a
great coach, and a winner. But, he's clearly viewing this
season as a "rebuilding" year for the Chargers.
Putting Drew Brees in does not give the Chargers their best
chance to win. No, Flutie can't carry a team for 16
games. But, after watching Brees play against the Rams'
first team, it looks like his happy feet have a lot of learning
to do. LaDainian Tomlinson has been oft-injured in the
preseason and that is a monstrous question mark for a Marty
team.
Forecast: 8-8. Marty gets his second
consecutive .500 season. |
KANSAS
CITY CHIEFS
Outlook: This is Team Dysfunction.
Their starting tight end, Tony Gonzalez, is in a snit because he
wants to play pro basketball and management says not for the kind
of money their paying him. The top draft pick Ryan Sims just signed, so he figures to be of little help
until midseason. And starting tackle
John Tait got 17 stitches when a teammate whacked him with a helmet
in a fight. On the plus side, running back Priest Holmes led the
NFL in total yards and can do it again, while QB Trent Green
should cut down on his interceptions. If nothing else, the Chiefs
will be fun to watch.
Forecast: Another mystery team. Playoffs are not out
of the question, but I see 8-8. |
3 |
KANSAS
CITY CHIEFS
Outlook: The most beautiful piece to the
Chiefs' puzzle is QB Trent Green. He also happens to be
the most important. Having played under coach Dick Vermeil
in St. Louis, he knows the systems that Vermeil likes to
implement. And, with a versatile back like Priest Holmes
behind him (a la Marshall Faulk), he has one piece to that
puzzle. If they can get TE Tony Gonzalez signed,
accompanying receivers Johnnie Morton, Eddie Kennison, Snoop
Minnis and Sylvester Morris, they have a good chance of having
one of the better offenses in the League (they averaged 24
points a game in December last year). No new faces among
coaches should mean some good consistency.
Forecast: 8-8. The Chiefs are in a
tough division. |
OAKLAND
RAIDERS
Outlook: Al Davis' autograph to the
first person who can name the new Raider coach. Give up? It's Bill
Callahan. He takes over from Jon Gruden and inherits an old team
that has seen its better days. The Raiders have a brutal schedule
and it will be surprising if QB Rich Gannon can thrive without
Gruden.
Forecast: Raider Nation gets restless as Oakland
falls below .500.
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4 |
OAKLAND
RAIDERS
Outlook: With their proverbial "last
chance" to win the Super Bowl, the Raiders made a bonehead
move when they let John Gruden go. By all accounts, he was
the fire that lit this team. And, with so many aging
players, it would have been proper for him to have one last shot
(even if it was his lame duck year). They've
made some great acquisitions, especially on defense. But,
this team is simply cursed - and they let the man with the
talisman go.
Forecast: 6-10. The black and silver
is back where they were before Gruden. |
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