It was just two years ago.
Just two short seasons ago.
Seems like waaaaay longer than that, though.
Of the six teams in the NFL Playoffs following the 2005 season, half of the field came from the AFC West.
San Diego, Kansas City, and Denver were all invited to the postseason party. Denver made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game...and they haven't made the playoffs since.
Even the black (and silver) sheep of the division, the Oakland Raiders, have held their own. Of the four teams in the AFC West, the Raiders, yes, the Raiders were the most recent division team to play in the Super Bowl. That was in 2002.
These days, the only signs of veritable Super Bowl aspirations in the AFC West are coming from San Diego. The other three teams in the division scare absolutely nobody. So what can San Diego do to take the next step and what can the other teams do to keep in step with the Chargers? Let's take a look.
Denver Broncos 7-9 in 2007
Positive: A good nucleus to build around and Jay Cutler has made nice progress as he enters his third season in the NFL in 2008. The biggest ally may not be on the roster, but instead the schedule. In 2008, the combined winning percentage of Denver's opponents is .417. That, more than anything, could make this team primed for a comeback year.
Negative: They are on their third defensive coordinator in three years. They need help along the defensive line. They have some potential, but that "potential" morphing into "playmaking" is the key. The Giants won the Super Bowl with a defensive unit putting tenacious pressure on the quarterback. The Broncos, on the other hand, had virtually no pressure on the quarterback and look where they ended up. The offensive line should be better but they need to start developing for the future as well. For years, the interior line has been the key to their offensive success and running game. Tom Nalen should return and they are cautiously hoping Ben Hamilton will do the same. However, Nalen is entering his 15th year. Up front, both offensively and defensively, they need to replenish if they want to be rejuvenated. If John Lynch returns, that would be great, but he would be entering his 16th season as well. You get my point: it's time to start planning for the future but still trying to win the present, a difficult balancing act for sure.
Kansas City Chiefs: 4-12 in 2007.
Positive: Larry Johnson. Dwayne Bowe. Jared Allen. That's it.
Negative: Well, everything else. If the Broncos need a little tweak, the Chiefs need a complete overhaul. The problem is, they started this process a little too late. They have a great running back in Johnson, but with a shaky offensive line and a quarterback that may or may not represent the future. So, with that said, defenses can key on Johnson and make Kansas City defeat them in another way. Then again, since Kansas City's offense is one-dimensional, that would be easier said than done.
Oakland Raiders: 4-12 in 2007.
Positive: I had to think hard about this one. I found something, though: They doubled their win total in 2007. That sounds great, however, they went from two victories to four, so, I guess that may not be so great.
Negative: At this juncture, their head coach is Lane Kiffin. However, reports continue to say that owner Al Davis wants him out and asked him to resign. Kiffin isn't budging. Hard to believe this franchise used to be one of the best in the NFL. They have had five head coaches...maybe six, depending on Kiffin's tenuous future...in eight years.
San Diego Chargers: 11-5 in 2007.
Positive: They have the best roster in terms of talent in the AFC West. Philip Rivers playing six days after knee surgery last month may have won him the locker room. They have the best running back in the game. They have a hugely talented tight end. They have a young and talented playmaking defense. They have mostly cultivated their roster through the draft and instead of free agency, which is one of the reasons they made the AFC Title Game and the Broncos missed the postseason for the second straight year. Norv Turner proved he can be an effective head coach. The pieces, are for the most part, in place for another big run.
Negative: Hard to find a lot. Running back Michael Turner is a free agent and they could have gotten some value for "Turner the Burner" with a trade but kept him. Keeping him in the fold paid off, as he played a big role in the Playoffs. Now, though, it seems hard to think they can keep him. Many teams could use a talent like him, and the Chargers have a little talent in front of him with LaDanian Tomlinson, so if he goes, it might be an outward loss, but how good would he look in orange and blue? Can't see it happening, but wouldn't you like to see it?
Have a great Tuesday and we will continue our look at the NFL tomorrow with my thoughts on the "Rooney Rule."
-"Z"
