Wild, Wobbly West

The San Diego Chargers were one game away from the Super Bowl and gave credence to an otherwise abysmal division. Truth be told, the Chargers beat up on the hobbled and/or inexperienced out west, and many a Bolt fan may be wondering how things will shape up in the AFC West come September. Denver Broncos: The closest competition the Chargers had last season was the Broncos and their second best divisional record with a whopping seven wins. They were 50/50 in the division and conference. Yet they were terrible on the road. I don't see anything in the off-season that makes them better. Releasing Travis Henry was a smart move in the sense that it builds credibility as a franchise. It holds players accountable to their work ethic. That being said, when you fail to draft a running back and only have Michael Pittman with enough experience to warrant an opening day gig, maybe you hang on to Henry for a little while longer. Obviously, Henry didn't have the type of season that running backs in Denver are accustomed too. But when the ship springs a leak you don't through the duct tape overboard. Last season: 7-9 This season: 5-11 Kansas City Chiefs: So last season, the Chiefs win their fourth game, going 4-3, ready to make a run for the division. Then… they didn't win another game the entire season. Seemed to me this team struggled to find its identity. Larry Johnson seemed like he was poised to finally and unequivocally emerge from the shadow of Preist Holmes, but faded back into mediocrity. There are promising faces on this team and the draft was killer. They're getting a lot of the rookies signed. The Chiefs are getting down to business. If Brodie Croyle, Dwayne Bowe and Larry Johnson can put some plays together, it can get ugly in the West. Their record last year was an aberration. I anticipate solid improvement in KC. Last season: 4-12 This season: 9-7 Oakland Raiders: If JaMarcus Russell was a team guy he wouldn't have been the longest holdout of a top pick in NFL history last year. That type of problem has been averted with the near immediate signing of running back Darren McFadden. Since Russell is basically still half a rookie himself, these two guys are going to come out eager yet inexperienced. They could turn some heads but I can't see the Raiders making a strong push, especially not right out of the gate. Midway through the season they could come into their own and pull an upset or two, but it won't be enough. I like the potential but they are at least a season away. Last season: 4-12 This season: 7-9