AFC West: Improved Raiders to finish second behind Chiefs

The Raiders were 3 antiaircraft stops distant from winning 11 games and sweeping the play bid with the Chiefs past year. And they look to beryllium a overmuch improved defence coming into 2021.

The additions of caller antiaircraft coordinator Gus Bradley, a retooled antiaircraft enactment and caller secondary members Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs and Casey Hayward enactment this defence and the Raiders connected a amended way to success.

With the discourtesy perchance adjacent amended than past year, they are successful presumption to beryllium the second-best squad successful the AFC West.

Here’s a look astatine their competition:

Kansas City Chiefs

VS. RAIDERS: Nov. 14, Allegiant Stadium; Dec. 12, Arrowhead Stadium

ADDITIONS: LT Orlando Brown, LG Joe Thuney, RT Lucas Niang

SUBTRACTIONS: OT Eric Fisher, OT Mitchell Schwartz, C Austin Reiter, RB Damien Williams, WR Sammy Watkins

OUTLOOK: The Chiefs’ nonaccomplishment to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers successful the Super Bowl was mostly the effect of losing some violative tackles to injury. It near Patrick Mahomes playing nether unit and proved violative creativity is lone arsenic bully arsenic your quality to support upfront. Kansas City wasted nary clip addressing the issue, moving connected from longtime tackles Mitchell Schwartz and Eric Fisher and reeling successful Orlando Brown arsenic their caller near tackle. That and the summation of rookie close tackle Lucas Niang is expected to spell a agelong mode successful protecting Mahomes amended than past year. As the Raiders proved past year, the Chiefs’ defence is susceptible to giving up points. It is simply a susceptible unit, but surely not impenetrable. Of course, with Mahomes astatine the helm, the situation for opponents is to play astir perfectly connected offense. Good luck with that.

FINISH: First

Los Angeles Chargers

VS. RAIDERS: Oct. 4, SoFi Stadium; Jan. 9, Allegiant Stadium

ADDITIONS: OT Rashawn Slater, C Corey Linsley, CB Asante Samuel Jr., OL Matt Feiler

SUBTRACTIONS: TE Hunter Henry, DE Melvin Ingram, CB Casey Hayward, G Trai Turner, LB Denzel Perryman, C Mike Pouncey

OUTLOOK: For the 3rd clip since 2013, the Chargers are starting implicit with a caller coach. Brandon Staley takes implicit for Anthony Lynn, who similar Mike McCoy earlier him was not capable to assistance the Chargers beyond conscionable mean successful his 4 years. The Chargers are 60-68 implicit the past 8 years with typically stout rosters. Enter Staley, who did truthful good successful his 1 play arsenic the antiaircraft coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams helium vaulted to among the astir sought-after coaching prospects successful the NFL. Unlike truthful galore of his first-time coaching peers, Staley assumes power of a squad with a young backmost who showed face-of-the-franchise attributes successful Justin Herbert. Despite losing talented young choky extremity Hunter Henry, halfway Mike Pouncey and defender Trai Turner, the Chargers did a terrific occupation of rebounding, particularly on the violative line, signing halfway Corey Linsley and versatile lineman Matt Feiler and drafting near tackle Rashawn Slater. A talented young defence is successful place, but arsenic typically is the lawsuit with the star-struck Chargers, avoiding injuries volition beryllium the key.

FINISH: Third

Denver Broncos

VS. RAIDERS: Oct. 17, Empower Field astatine Mile High; Dec. 26, Allegiant Stadium

ADDITIONS: QB Teddy Bridgewater, CB Kyle Fuller, RT Bobby Massie, CB Ronald Darby

SUBTRACTIONS: CB A.J. Bouye, OT Ja’Wuan James

OUTLOOK: Bridgewater has ne'er rather distinguished himself arsenic a winning starting quarterback, and this has the consciousness of a occupation that tin power hands aggregate times passim the season. But for present it is Bridgewater’s show. Still, 1 gets the consciousness the Broncos are simply biding their clip earlier bringing successful a semipermanent quarterback. Bridgewater should payment from a decently built roster and a young defence brimming with playmakers. In that sense, provided helium plays to his game-management skills successful which helium oversees alternatively than takes over, helium has a accidental to clasp onto the occupation and beryllium a dependable leader.But that mightiness not beryllium capable to propulsion the Broncos retired of the AFC West basement.

FINISH: Fourth