2009 AFC West Season Preview

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Looking into our 2009 AFC West Season Preview it appears as though the AFC West may be a bit more competitive this year. The teams comprising the AFC West Division are the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders. San Diego and Denver both finished the 2008 season with 8-8 records but the Chargers won the division based on having a better divisional record at 5-1. San Diego became the first team in NFL history to start a season at 4-8 and go on to make the playoffs. Denver was in control of the division but collapsed down the stretch losing its final 3 games. The Oakland Raiders had a poor season yet again finishing with a record of 5-11. Finishing last in this division was the Kansas City Chiefs who's miserable 2008 season ended with them going 2-14. For the 2009 season the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers have the 2 easiest schedules in this division while the Oakland Raiders face the division's toughest schedule.

San Diego and Oakland open up the 2009 AFC West Season playing a night game in Oakland on ESPN. The Chargers will play the Broncos twice this year first in Week 6 at San Diego and then in Week 11 at Denver. In Week 2 the Raiders and Chiefs renew there rivalry when they meet in Kansas City, then face each other again in Week 10 at Oakland. San Diego is by far the most talented team in the AFC West this year and will win this division going away. They have Pro Bowl Outside Linebacker Shawn Merriman returning this season and the QB with the highest passer rating in the NFL last year in Philip Rivers. The Chargers will go 13-3 and run away with this division early. The Denver Broncos have a new Head Coach in Josh McDaniels and a new QB in Kyle Orton. They will be a mediocre team and will finish well back of the Chargers at 8-8. The Oakland Raiders are hoping to see a much improved JaMarcus Russell at QB and with some definite weapons on offense the Raiders will be an improved team. They will make some strides and will end the season at 7-9. The Kansas City Chiefs have a new Head Coach and a new Quarterback but it will take some time for this team to become a contender. The Chiefs will end the 2009 season with a 6-10 record, without much improvement in the 2009 AFC West.

2009 Denver Broncos AFC West Season PreviewIt was a dramatic off season for Denver bringing in a new Head Coach in Josh McDaniels and trading away franchise QB Jay Cutler. The Preview of 2009 AFC West sees Kyle Orton will be under center for the Broncos but he will be a big drop off from what Cutler was able to do for this offense. Denver will have a solid running game like usual with free agent signings Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, and LaMont Jordan to go along with 1st round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. The big plays Denver was accustomed to with Cutler at QB will be gone, but the Broncos should have a productive offense to go along with an improved defense this year.

Denver Broncos 2009 Season Schedule - Denver Broncos 2009 Season Preview

2009 San Diego Chargers AFC West Season PreviewThe Chargers are loaded with talent on both offense and defense. They will have one of the top offenses in the league in 2009 AFC West. QB Philip Rivers is coming off his best season as a pro and has become one of the top Quarterbacks in the league. He led the NFL in passer rating a season ago and finished the season with 11 TDs and only 1 Int in the teams final 4 games lifting them to the division title. Rivers will have a huge year again in 2009 and with RBs Ladanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles the Chargers will light up the scoreboard. The return of Shawn Merriman at Outside Linebacker will give the defense a big boost and he will return to Pro Bowl form.

San Diego Chargers 2009 Season Schedule - San Diego Chargers 2009 Season Preview

2009 Kansas City Chiefs AFC West Season PreviewNew Head Coach Todd Haley and new QB Matt Cassel usher in a new era in Kansas City. Cassel is coming off an excellent season last year starting for the New England Patriots. Unfortunately Randy Moss and Wes Welker are not a part of this Chiefs offense. Cassel will struggle without the play makers he had in New England. Coach Haley will implement a pass happy offense but WR Dwayne Bowe is the only legitimate threat they have at wide out. The loss of Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez will be felt as this team will struggle to score points. Running back Larry Johnson is coming off a disappointing injury plagued season and the Chiefs did not get much production at the position when he was out. The defense will be improved with some solid off season acquisitions but without enough play makers on offense Kansas City will have a tough time winning games on their 2009 AFC West Schedule.

Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Season Schedule - Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Season Preview

2009 Oakland Raiders AFC West Season PreviewThe Raiders have received all sorts of criticism on their 2009 draft choices. The biggest head scratcher came when the Raiders selected WR Darrius Heyward-Bey with the 8th overall selection. Owner Al Davis has always coveted speed and that it was drew him to Heyward-Bey. Oakland is still waiting for the 1st pick of the 2007 draft QB JaMarcus Russell reach the potential that made him such a coveted pick coming out of college. Russell will show signs of improvement this year and should have some big plays to the rookie Heyward-Bey. Ashely Lelie and Javon Walker will also have better years after struggling mightily in 2008. The running game will be a strength for Oakland with 2nd year back Darren McFadden coming into the season healthy. McFadden should have a breakout year for the Raiders.

Oakland Raiders 2009 Season Schedule - Oakland Raiders 2009 Season Preview