Predicting Game-By-Game Records For The AFC West. Spoiler Alert: The Raiders Are Going To Suck Ass
Ahead of the season, I wanted to repeat a blog from last year where I go in and predict how the AFC West schedules will play out. It will, without a doubt, be wrong because of some insane, unpredictable nonsense that will derail either one of these teams or their opponents. However, I refuse to let that stop me because I got football fever, baby.
I don't want to go in deep on every single game, so I'll just highlight some the games that I think can go either way.
CHARGERS
- VS MIA: Miami is gonna be tough to predict. They have a QB that can't stay healthy but undoubtably have insane offensive firepower around him. The biggest upgrade they got in the offseason was bringing in Fangio, who has a proven track record with both Ramsey(who won't be avail this game) and Chubb. He's also gonna do wonders with Philips and Wilkins. However, if the Chargers could beat the Dolphins last year with basically their entire roster on the IR, I don't see why they couldn't win now at the healthiest they will be all year.
- VS KC: The Chargers have played the Chiefs down to the final minute almost every time they've faced up in the Herbert era. The first game of his career, where he was named starter 5 minutes before kickoff thanks to the dunderhead medal team stabbing Tyrod Taylor, was a 3-point loss in OT. The last 4 games they've played have been decided by a grand total of 18 points. They've split the series 2/3 years which is why I'll bet on it happening again.
- VS DET: People have been hyping up the Lions a TON and I think they're gonna underdeliver. They lost their RB room in the offseason and, typically speaking, the Chargers biggest weakness is stopping the run.
- VS BUF: I'm not sure how this ends up but, again, the Chargers typically struggle bad vs the run. It's gonna be a grind or a shootout. If the Chargers are healthy when this game rolls around, I'd bet on them in a shootout.
Some other info to keep in mind is that the Chargers currently have the 27th hardest strength of schedule. They will also be traveling the 5th most out the entire league which is gonna suck.
RAIDERS
- VS GB: It's hard to predict how the Packers are going to shake out with Love in charge. If the Raiders are going to squeak one out this year, though, I'd bet it's vs them.
- VS DET: Again, I'm just not a huge believer in the Lions this year. I hope they prove me wrong cause, like most rational people, I'm a Danny C fan.
- VS IND: There are just a ton of variables with the Colts right now. They weren't great vs the run so I could see Jacobs just going to town.
- VS DEN: Kind of like the Lions, I'm not a believer in the Broncos. I think Payton is overrated and Russ doesn't have the juice left to lug that offense to a playoff level.
The Raiders have the 2nd hardest strength of schedule in the league and will be traveling the 13th most miles.
BRONCOS
Advertisement
- VS CHI: There isn't much the Broncos have done right but their defense is strong. They're one of the better run D teams in the league and that is going to be how you beat the Bears. Especially having the skill and agility they have in the second level to combat a mobile QB.
- VS NYJ: This is the Rodgers/Hackett revenge game, so you gotta think that they're going to be merciless.
- Vs CLE: The Browns are another team that is hard to predict since Weirdo Watson didn't play much last year and he stunk when he did. They still have arguably the best RB in the game, though, which will make the Broncos aforementioned solid Run D work for their paychecks.
The Broncos currently have the 23rd hardest strength of schedule and will be traveling the 14th most miles in the league.
CHIEFS
- VS NYJ: The Chiefs lose some weird ones (IE The Colts last year) and I think that will be the Jets in 2023. Unlike the Colts, the Jets SHOULD be a wagon and have a solid defense to back up the totally new offense.
- VS MIN: The regular season savant Vikings can steal a game from any of the future Super Bowl favorites.
- VS LAC: Like I mentioned in the Chargers section, these games are always close. And while this game SHOULD be the one that the Chiefs win (It will be a back-to-back home game after a long TNF break while the Chargers will be away and on a MNF short week), that is why the Chargers will win. Their games never make any sense.
- VS PHI: In a head-to-head matchup, the Chiefs are only better than the Eagles at QB and head coach. While I think Hurts is overrated (he should not be in the same tier as Mahomes or Burrow/Allen), he is still surrounded by the best QB situation in the entire league which is going to help him tremendously in every matchup.
The Chiefs have the 28th hardest strength of schedule and will be traveling the 8th most miles in the league.
Again, most of these predictions will probably be wrong. But I just had to let loose some of this football steam.