AFC West 2006 Preview and Projections

By: James Campbell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:26:17
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Western Division:

1) Denver: These Bronco’s have been the most consistent team in the AFC West over the past three seasons as evidenced by their 34-18 straight up record over this time period and they have not had a losing season since 1999, add to the mix that Denver is the only team in their division NOT to have replaced either their head coach or their starting QB and it’s a safe assumption to make that they will repeat as divisional champs. Projected record: 11-5

**Look to play ON the Bronco’s in week 3 when they face the visiting Chiefs on Monday night, the home team in this series is on an unbelievable 8-1-1 ATS run!!

2) San Diego: The Bolts elected to start a new era in Charger land when they elected to let two time Pro Bowl QB Drew Brees go to New Orleans, in his place the Bolts will start Philip Rivers who will be backed up by journeyman signal caller A.J. Feely. The Bolts should be okay with Rivers under center as he has had two years to prepare for this role and has plenty of weapons around him. Amazing enough, these Chargers had five losses last season by 4 or less points, if Rivers can be the catalyst in winning a few more of those close games the Bolts will once again be a playoff contender. Projected record: 11-5

**Look to play AGAINST the Bolts on December 3rd when they visit what should be a snowy and cold Buffalo stadium, San Diego will be playing on the road for the 3rd time in a 4 week span and the game at Buffalo is sandwiched between home games versus divisional rivals Oakland and Denver, can you say road weary and unfocused?

3) Kansas City: The Chiefs won 10 regular season games last year but still failed to make the playoffs, the boys in red have a new HC this year as former Jet HC Herm Edwards has crossed over and replaces Dick Vermeil, the bad news for the Chiefs is that offensive guru Al Saunders has also left and is now in Washington, however, there is a bright side and that is that most of the other offensive assistants are still on board along with plenty of offensive leadership from the veterans. KC should be a good team this year but they are aging quickly, should the ole injury bug hit they will be in big time trouble this year. A check of last seasons results reveal that 5 of KC’s 6 seasonal losses occurred when playing on the road….did you hear that Herm?? Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play AGAINST the Chiefs in week 3 when they travel to face Denver on a Monday night, the home team in this series is on an unbelievable 8-1-1 ATS run!!

4) Oakland: The Silver and Black have now had three straight losing seasons and have compiled a shoddy 13-35 straight up and 14-32-2 ATS mark over this time frame and appear headed for another dismal kinda year when considering they are now on their 6th head coach since the 1996 season with the ousting of Norv Turner and the arrival of Art Shell who hasn’t held a coaching position since the invention of macaroni!! If having to learn all new schemes again wasn’t bad enough, now they must do so with a new QB under center (Aaron Brooks) who is Michael Vick’s cousin and suffers from the same major malfunction with regard to his penchant for making bone headed plays at inopportune times. A so-so draft coupled with a new coaching staff and a new QB equates to another losing season in the tough AFC West. Projected record: 4-12

** Look to play AGAINST Oakland in their season opening home game against the visiting Chargers, the contest is the late game in a Monday night double header. The visiting Bolts are a perfect 5-0 straight up and ATS in their last five outings versus the Silver and Black, meanwhile, a check of the ole history book reveals that Oakland is a perfect 0-9 ATS in their last nine home games against divisional opponents.

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