NFL Preview '08: Chargers Make Their Own Run at Perfection

AFC West Standings
1. San Diego Chargers 14-2- AFC West Champion and First Round Bye
2. Denver Broncos 7-9
3. Oakland Raiders 6-10
4. Kansas City Chiefs 5-11

The San Diego Chargers are a stacked football team talent wise and came up just short of a Super Bowl bid last season. San Diego fell to New England in the AFC Championship Game last season after once again defeating Indianapolis. San Diego will be the regular season's best team once again, but the playoffs could once again prove difficult. The Chargers will make a run at perfection, but either New England, Indy, Pittsburgh, or maybe even a division foe will hand them a loss or two. Nonetheless SD will win the West once again. Denver is another one of the swing teams. I have them marked at 7-9 because WR Brandon Marshall has a 3-game suspension to start the season, and the defense is still a question mark to me. Head coach Mike Shanahan always gets this team ready to compete and QB ! Jay Cutler looks ready for a solid '08 campaign. The Oakland Raiders are a sleeper team in the AFC. They have a top 5 defense in the NFL, but their offense is still abysmal. If QB JaMarcus Russell can turn the offense around, Oakland could be a playoff team. Do not count on it though. Rookie RB Darren McFadden will also have to have a solid year. The Kansas City Chiefs are bad. Plain and simple. The defense is still awful and I am not a believer in QB Brodie Croyle. Head coach Herm Edwards will likely lose his job at the end of this season. Look for RB Larry Johnson to have a rebound year though.
That wraps up the AFC, next up the entire NFC. We will start in the East where all four teams are playoff contenders. Will Dallas and their new reality television show reign supreme? Or will McNabb lead Philly back to the top? Find out in the next segment.