Even with some serious questions entering the season, the Chargers still look like the team with the best chance of once again taking down the AFC West. Let’s take a look at how the division might shake out.

Oakland Raiders:
Even though the Raiders have been the butt-end of quite a few jokes the last few seasons, they seem to be finally headed in the right direction. Pulling the plug on the JaMarcus Russell experiment was long overdue and plugging in Jason Campbell is an immediate upgrade at the most crucial position on the field. Even if Campbell is only an average signal caller, he’s at least a legit starting quarterback, and that’s step one. Though they don’t have much overall offensive talent, the Raiders should be significantly improved – at least in this regard.

On defense, the Raiders already have playmakers like Richard Seymour and Nnamdi Asomugha on their defensive front and a secondary that has kept them competitive in recent years. With an offense that can move the ball at least a little, the Raiders defense could be a strong overall unit. The Raiders don’t seem to have enough to make the playoffs, but they could aspire to be second in the division, which is a start.

Kansas City Chiefs:
The best part about the Chiefs is definitely their running game led by up-and-comer Jamaal Charles and recent acquisition Thomas Jones. In his first year as a starter for the Chiefs, Matt Cassel also showed some signs of being a legitimate signal caller, though he was hurt significantly by a general lack of talent around him. Their second round pick of running back Dexter McCluster was a bit puzzling, but with another year of experience Cassel should be able to elevate the Chiefs somewhat on offense. Still, the Chiefs were shredded last year on defense and it’s unlikely that first round pick Eric Berry will be able to change that overnight. The Chiefs at least have some exciting players, but the playoffs seem a long ways away.

Denver Broncos:
The Broncos have been one of the most unpredictable teams around recently. Last season, they shocked the league by starting 6-0 before falling apart the final 10 games. This year they acquired Brady Quinn, a former first-round pick who figured to be in the mix for the starting quarterback position. Then the Broncos drafted Tim Tebow and things got complicated. For now, it seems that Kyle Orton will remain the starter with Tebow being used in certain formations. As for Quinn, your guess is as good as mine.

The major problem for the Broncos, though, is that they lost their most talented overall player, Brandon Marshall. Brand Viagra Without Marshall, the rest of the Broncos receiving corps will likely be exposed and it could become very difficult to move the ball through the air. Knowshon Moreno could be a star on the rise in the backfield but he’ll be splitting carries at the beginning of the season with Correll Buckhalter. After going 8-8 last season, it’s hard to imagine them improving.

San Diego Chargers:
The Chargers certainly haven’t been without their fair share of turmoil this offseason. Both wideout Vincent Jackson and left tackle Marcus McNeil plan to hold out at the beginning of the season, possibly all the way until Week 11. But the Chargers still have a lot going for them, and it all starts with quarterback Philip Rivers, who always sells plenty of NFL tickets. Rivers has quietly been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league the last two seasons and he’ll still be able to move the ball with tight end Antonio Gates and first-rounder Ryan Mathews, even if Jackson sits out much of the year.

On defense, it’s a huge season for Shawne Merriman, the former star linebacker desperately needing a healthy, dominant season to get back in the discussion of most dynamic defensive playmakers. After a secondary shakeup, it will be interesting to see how young players step into more prominent roles, but the Chargers are clearly the team to beat in the AFC West.

Overall:
Even though the Chargers are not in as good of shape as they have been in recent years, they are still the best team in the division. For one, they have the only top-tier quarterback in the AFC West and have created a culture of winning over the past few seasons. 9-7 could definitely get the job done this year in the AFC West, and the Chargers appear to be the only team capable of a season above .500.

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