Here is a division that had 2 teams in the top 5 of the 2008 NFL draft Raiders (4) and Chiefs (5) with the Denver Broncos escaping into pick 12 with the 7-9 record. The San Diego Chargers won the division with 11-5 record and made it to the AFC Championship before getting beaten by the Super Bowl runner up New England Patriots. Below is a break down of each team and there project win loss column in 2008-09 NFL season<o:p></o:p>
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San Diego Chargers, with the NFL leading Rusher LaDainian Tomlinson, 2004 draft pick RD 1 (4) QB Phillip Rivers, TE Antonio Gates and a Chargers Defense anchored by LB Shawne Merriman, LB Shaun Phillips and CB Antonio Cromartie the Chargers are primed for another run at the Super Bowl. So what stands in there way, well one is injuries to Tomlinson, Rivers and Gates will be intriguing to see what happens when training camp gets here this summer. The other reason that speculation will arise is the Head Coach that has a track record of loosing with a 9 year history with the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders out of 141 games he has 58 wins to 83 losses or a .415 win percentage record. With the ousting of the previous head coach do to speculation of disagreements between Head Coach and GM caused a changed at the helm and Norv Turner comes in with a team that had a 14-2 record and it was not until week 5 that the return to form was able to be acknowledged. This season the schedule shows some Pro’s and Con’s that might be able to assist them in making another run at the Super Bowl but historically the window of opportunity starts to close as the number of losses at the playoff level continues. The 2008-09 projection would look to be a 12-4 record with a #2 seed and no more than a #3 seed at the most. Questions with the direction of the team will continue but should be overcome with focus.<o:p></o:p>
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Denver Broncos are a team on the rise again after a few years of getting beat up with injuries and changing of players, the Broncos should get some much needed support at the OL due to the drafting of OT Ryan Clady but the questions will not be on the OL this year it will be at the RB and WR position since the recent diagnosis of QB Jay Cutler Type 1 Diabetes that with focus and proper nutrition should not be a problem but will continue to be a concern if certain actions from the QB can not be performed due to exhaustion and or dehydration that could develop from the insulin deficiency. <o:p></o:p>
The Bronco Defense was upgraded with LB Boss Bailey the brother of DC Champ Bailey should get some attention during the season. The 2008-09 projection is not as good as everyone would like being low at a 9-7 record just 2 better than last year. With the ability to overcome some obstacles could get a 10-6 record and possibly take the #6 seed in the wild card race. <o:p></o:p>
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Kansas City Chiefs are a team on a mission to get better. The trade of Jared Allen may prove to be the most deserving move that could be accomplished in the offseason of any team in the NFL this year. The drafting of DE Tamba Hali in 2005 made DE Jared Allen expendable and with the acquisition of Vikings 1ST round pick plus other later rounds allowed the Chiefs to make the necessary changes to the roster to hopefully make a move at the playoffs this year. This years drafting of DT Glenn Dorsey and OG Brandon Albert will solidify both DL and OL as a primary need to get back in the race. The question will be surrounding RB Larry Johnson and WR Dwayne Bowe to see if last year was a fluke or will additional attention need to be played in order to strengthen the deficiencies. Chiefs have the tools now it will be time to see if they all work. 2008-09 projection 7-9<o:p></o:p>
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Oakland Raiders will be a team that passed on potential fame for a player that might not be who they expect. Darren McFadden is an outstanding candidate for 2008 <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">ROY</st1:place></st1:city> but there is fear that the position that he will be playing is not worthy of the #4 pick in this year draft. The obvious pick this year should have been at DT with Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis still on the board to replace DT Warren Sapp which was the heart and soul of that defense. Darren McFadden will be a home run hitter but his ability to out run veterans may be harder than it was in the college level. The Coaching staff has been nothing more than the puppets of NFL renegade Al Davis and has been since his merge into the NFL from what was called the AFL in the 1960’s. 2008-09 projection 6-10, #5 in the 2009 NFL draft. <o:p></o:p><