The NFL’s website ran a preview on the Kansas City Chiefs and closed it out with some predictions for the season. One of them you’ll like - the Chiefs as AFC West favorites.
The Chiefs are the safest pick to take the AFC West this year, although there is a lot to like about the Oakland Raiders. There's certainly a way this team can win 10 or 11 games, even if the variables -- Charles and Houston -- don't perform.
Two things mentioned here. First, the Chiefs as the AFC West favorites. I would agree with this because they have the highest floor. The Raiders could end up being a really good team because it’s reasonable to expect a young Derek Carr to take another big leap. The Broncos defense isn’t likely to be as good as they were last year and their quarterback situation is ... well, not much different than last year, actually. Whatever. I’ll still buy the Chiefs as the slight favorites in the AFC West.
The other thing, can the Chiefs be a playoff team even if Justin Houston and Jamaal Charles aren’t Justin Houston and Jamaal Charles? The Chiefs are deep enough that I think even without those two playing at a high level they could be borderline playoff contenders but they wouldn’t be real threats. They would be the Texans of the playoffs — just happy to be there.
Agree that the Chiefs are the safest pick to win the division?