On Sunday, the NFL released its 2019 NFL season schedule. As it is every year, the schedule release was highly anticipated and exciting for NFL fans all around the world. Before the draft, NFL Fan Blitz will predict the standings in each division. This edition of “2019 Pre-NFL Draft Divisional Standings” will focus on the AFC West.
Key: (#)=conference seed, *=playoff contender
Predicted Standings:
(2)* Kansas City Chiefs: 13-3
(8) Oakland Raiders: 8-8
(12) Los Angeles Chargers: 6-10
(15) Denver Broncos: 3-13
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes and his talented Chiefs team are expected to take the AFC West this year and surely match the dominance they displayed last season. Kansas City will return as one of the NFL’s most fun teams to watch, and with a schedule that gives them the opportunity to once again have a double-digit win count. They may even have enough to go undefeated (6-0) against their divisional rivals.
Raiders: Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock, and the Oakland Raiders front office have had a rollercoaster of an offseason, to say the least. The team added one of the NFL’s best receivers in Antonio Brown, a top offensive tackle in Trent Brown, as well as wide receiver Tyrell Williams, safety Lamarcus Joyner, and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Last season was rough for this team, but look for them to take steps at eventually becoming a playoff contender with a solid 8-8 record this year.
Chargers: The Chargers have a tough schedule this year, as they must play three tough teams from the AFC South, as well as the Steelers, Bears, and Packers among others. Not to mention, division rivals Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders have more talent this season. Veteran Philip Rivers is aging, and it seems as if Los Angeles won’t have as much firepower to their team as they did last season.
Broncos: Keep in mind, this is a pre-draft prediction for divisional standings. Denver may pick their new franchise quarterback next week, potentially Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins or Missouri’s Drew Lock. The Broncos currently have Joe Flacco as their quarterback, after they traded away Case Keenum. This year should be a developmental one for the new players Denver gets, with the opportunity to have success in the coming years.
