2012 NFL Predictions: AFC West Division Vegas Odds, Free Picks and Projections: It seems like every season there is a division that just doesn’t stack up well against the rest of the NFL. For several years, the NFC West owned the unfortunate reputation, but last season, the AFC West took the honor. The Denver Broncos won the division with an 8-8 mark, winning a three-way tiebreaker with San Diego and Oakland. In fact, Kansas City was in the cellar of the division despite being just one game back. I guess you could call it competitive, but there reality is that the AFC West was simply the poster child for mediocrity in 2011. As the division tries to return to respectability, here is a look at how the teams stack up heading into the 2012 NFL season.
2012 NFL Predictions: AFC West Division Vegas Odds, Picks and Projections
1. Denver Broncos (Prediction: 10-6)
The train wreck that was the Indianapolis Colts last season was a perfect example of just how valuable Peyton Manning is. At his best, you can literally throw anyone around him, and he will find a way to take his team to the playoffs. While questions certainly remain about his health, following neck surgery, I don’t think the future Hall of Famer would have bothered to return had he not felt physically able to perform at a high level. More importantly, he has weapons like Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas and Jacob Tamme to work with in the passing game and has veteran running back Willis McGahee in the backfield. Throw in a solid offensive line and a defense that features a pair of skilled pass rushers in Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller, and the Broncos can easily win a very mediocre AFC West with Manning under center.
2. San Diego Chargers (Prediction: 9-7)
A horrible start to the year doomed the Chargers in 2011, and San Diego appears to be on a downward trend. After being on the doorstep of a Super Bowl berth for several years, Philip Rivers and company have a lot of questions to answer in 2012. Rivers himself committed 25 turnovers last year, and star tight end Antonio Gates will probably never be fully healthy. Meanwhile, injury-prone running back Ryan Matthews is already going to miss time with a broken collarbone, and No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson left via free agency. On the plus side, the defense appears to be getting better with young players like Eric Weddle, Corey Liuget and Melvin Ingram joining veterans Shaun Phillips and Quentin Jammer. Still, this team isn’t as talented as it has been in past years, and if the Chargers couldn’t get it done then, they probably aren’t going to now.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (Prediction: 8-8)
Last year, the Chiefs averaged an abysmal 13.3 points per game on offense. Remarkably, that was only the second-lowest average in the NFL, but the issue for Kansas City is obvious. Getting running back Jamaal Charles should help the cause, but quarterback Matt Cassel has yet to prove he can be anything more than average. Not to mention that receiver Dwayne Bowe remains the team’s only proven option in the passing game. A defense that kept the Chiefs in most games last year features two excellent linebackers in Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson, and the secondary will get a boost from the return of safety Eric Berry. Just like last season, an inconsistent offense will likely keep Kansas City fluttering around the .500 mark most of the year.
4. Oakland Raiders (Prediction: 7-9)
With Carson Palmer under center, Darren McFadden in the backfield and Darius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore at receiver, Oakland has actually assembled a solid core of skill players. However, penalties and turnovers continue to derail the Raiders, and at times, kicker Sebastian Janikowski is the most impressive thing about this offense. The bigger issue is Oakland’s porous defense that gave up almost 30 points a game last year while getting shredded by the run and the pass. The Raiders aren’t nearly as bad as they were a few years ago, but they aren’t going to challenge for the division title either.
2012 AFC West Division Odds
9031 DEN Broncos +175
9032 KC Chiefs +335
9033 OAK Raiders +600
9034 SDG Chargers +175
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