We wrap up our trek through the divisional odds with the AFC West, a group of teams that have all made drastic changes in coaching staffs or quarterbacks over the last two seasons. Only Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs was employed by his current team in 2016. To make up for his coaching tenure advantage this season, he’s breaking in a new starting quarterback, second-year Patrick Mahomes out of Texas Tech.
Still, the biggest newsquake of the offseason happened right along the San Andreas Fault when the Oakland Raiders brought Jon Gruden out of the Monday Night Football broadcast booth and put him back on the sidelines where he began his head coaching career. The oddsmakers at BetDSI Sportsbook obviously love the move for the Raiders. Take a look at the odds.
AFC West 2018 Odds
Oakland Raiders +175
Kansas City Chiefs +250
Los Angeles Chargers +250
Denver Broncos +350
So is Gruden the only reason to like Oakland?
Not by a longshot. The Raiders were a trendy Super Bowl pick last season. So trendy, in fact, that yours truly fell for it just like everybody else. With the exception of wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the nucleus on offense is still there for Gruden to work with, including the most talented quarterback he’s ever taken the field with as a head coach, Derek Carr.
In Crabtree’s spot, the Raiders plug in free agent acquisition Jordy Nelson from the Green Bay Packers and have added former Pittsburgh Steeler Martavis Bryant in the slot. First round pick Kolton Miller should slide in at right tackle and don’t be surprised to see new running back Doug Martin take over as starting running back before the season’s over.
I was a big proponent of Gruden’s return to coaching and I’m just as excited as everybody else to see what’s happening in Oakland this season before the team packs the semis and heads east to Sin City.
No chance of a Chiefs repeat?
You can never count an Andy Reid coached team out (until, you know, the playoffs), but there will definitely be a drop-off from Alex Smith to Mahomes this season. Mahomes could very well be the future of the franchise, but Smith was smart, careful and a winner. It’s doubtful Mahomes will come out the gate in a way that will have Kansas City competing for a division title.
Nobody’s buying the Chargers
There was some early buzz in the offseason that Los Angeles could not only be a sneaky pick for the AFC West, but a potential Super Bowl pick. All those rumblings seem to have subsided after everyone, collectively, still realized Anthony Lynn remains the head coach. As long as Philip Rivers is healthy the Chargers will be competitive in every game. I don’t see them finishing better than 8-8.
Broncos getting no respect
Since 2013 only two teams out of the AFC have gone to the Super Bowl; the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t give New England a valid shot at making the return trip in Feb. 2019. No one is as excited at Denver’s prospects.
While Case Keenum will likely be an upgrade over Trevor Siemian, no one outside of John Elway’s office feels this team will compete for much this season. I have to agree.
