If you give Jon Gruden long enough, he’ll play up the virtues of every team in the AFC West and offer up numerous reasons why the Broncos, Chiefs and Chargers are going to be tough to beat. Deep down, Gruden knows that two things trump all: coaching and quarterback. To that end, the Raiders have
After initial free agency wave, Raiders still favorite to win AFC West
Well I don’t know how the overall talent of the team will stack up with the rest of the division, but 15years of being out coached is over that I’m pretty confident about.
I do appreciate your perspective, but I still think the Chargers and Chiefs are the teams to beat in the AFC West. I am just not sure the Raiders have done enough. Of course, last year, the Raiders were the sexy pick after making waves in free agency, so maybe . . .
I think our Raiders have as good a chance to win the west as any other team. On paper.
I am not putting us at the top of the heap though.
Our team must mesh with an entirely new staff and scheme. Again.
I want to see what we look like on the field in real games.
I’d probably lean towards the Chargers as favorites, if for no other reason than they are the most consistent team and they beat us twice last year, but they are a perennial underachiever so there is that also. Additionally, until Derek shows he can play in KC I will consider that a loss and the Chiefs on at least equal ground, even going to Mahomes. We have a ton of “ifs”, and could easily break through, but we could easily be 7-9 and looking up again as well.
Good take. I agree with the eval of KC & LAC. Still think this early it’s not more than a toss up, but I like our chances
Put the kool aid down Cork and slowly back away. I’ll be happy to walk away with 8 wins this season.
There really isn’t a case to be made that Keenum is as good as Carr. He’s a career journeyman who had one good season. You know who rise did that? Josh McCown. Is any rational minded person claiming he might be on DC’s level? It’s amazing how 1 down season with a broken back and a rookie OC (who so obviously had no idea what he was doing) can tank a QB’s reputation.