In Predicted Order of Finish
1) Denver Broncos (8-8, 3rd Place): The Denver Broncos and Coach Howard Berkert are coming off an 8-8 season in which they improved some 7 games over Berkert's inaugural campaign. Now, in year three, Denver is eying a division crown and perhaps even a Super Bowl run! QB Josh Allen is young and exciting and is, arguably, the best signal caller in the division. He has not completed 60% of his passes in a season yet and only had 20 TD passes last year so marked improvement is expected. RB Nick Chubb should plow his way to some tough yards while being spelled by Joshua Kelley, Justin Jackson, and Alfred Morris. Chubb had over 1500 yards rushing last season but there are injury concerns for the entire backfield that could force Berkert to really juggle his lineup at times throughout the season. No such major worries can be found in the receiving area. TE Darren Waller is an elite talent. Cole Beasley, Diontae Johnson, and Russell Gage all offer excellent catching skills although lacking true breakaway threat potential. That problem, though. could be solved by using the talents of Mecole Hardman and Tim Patrick. The offensive line is one of the best in football led by C Rodney Hudson and G Austin Corbett. On the defensive side of the ball, the Broncos are no slouches either. DE Brian Burns is a pass rush demon and DL Ndamukong Suh brings veteran experience. Jason Pierre-Paul is an elite OLB who can play both the run and rush the passer equally well. The secondary is not spectacular and will be tested but it might be just good enough to push Denver to new heights.
2) Las Vegas Raiders (3-13 4th Place): Chris Liacouras becomes the 5th head coach in Raider history and takes control of a pretty decent squad that finished with a disappointing 3-13 record a season ago. The Raiders have never had a single winning season in their history but stand a great chance of changing that this time around. QB could be the Achilles Heal and Liacouras will need to find some way to squeeze efficiency out of Mitch Tribusky and Nick Foles. Some of the pressure could be relieved if the Raiders can get their three dynamic backs to be consistent performers. Latavius Murray, Cam Akers, and Tony Pollard will combine to form a solid backfield and will need to play well. Amari Cooper and A.J. Brown are a solid WR duo as is the combo of Mike Gesicki and Austin Hooper at TE. Nelson Agholor supplies deep threat explosiveness. The offensive line is solid and has depth. T Orlando Brown. G's Connor Williams and Laken Tomlinson are the backbone of this unit. The defensive front 7 has a few playmakers but it is not overly fearsome. DE Josh Allen, DT Derrick Brown, and ILB Roquan Smith will be the best they have here. The secondary, however, is a different story and probably the best in the division. CB Jalen Ramsey is as good as it gets while safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Adrian Amos might be the best tandem in the league. CB Donte Jackson gives Licouras as good a foursome as any in football.
3) Seattle Seahawks (12-4, Lost AFC title Game, 1st Place): Seattle has been a perennial contender in the AFC West with the steady play of QB Russell Wilson always present. This season is no different except the overall talent level might be just a shade below Seahawk standards. Jamey Dilbeck (59-37 .615) returns for his 7th season as head coach and has a real challenge ahead. Prehistoric all-time great Adrian Peterson with Raheem Mostert will be the probable running backs. AP enters the year as the PAFL's all-time leading rusher with some 7423 yards and holds almost every career record in the league, but he has clearly lost a step or two or even three. The Seahawks lack any depth at the WR or TE slots with only Mike Evans a true everyday player. The offensive line is average at best and will also have injury problems it will need to contend with. The defensive line is decent and can get after the QB. DEs Cam Jordan and Benson Mayowa can cause disruption and DL Jurrell Casey is a solid run stopper. Aldon Smith and Alex Singleton are good as LBs and Smith can also line up as a DE if need be. The real worry has to be a secondary that is absent of any shutdown player and is also devoid of any everyday player.
4) San Francisco 49er's (9-7, Missed Playoffs, 2nd Place): Coach Todd Cichon is the only coach the Niners have ever known. He is one of only six coaches who have been with the same team since league inception. Two veterans, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Cam Newton, will probably split duties under center. Jamaal Williams, Malcom Brown, Kalen Ballage, and Matt Breida all figure to get some carries at tailback. The WR and TE positions are hurting with only DK Metcalf a full-time player. There is a bevy of targets in the cupboard, however, and time will tell how Cichon finds ways to use them all. The Oline has some talent in T's Braden Smith and Tristan Wirfs along with G Wyatt Teller. The strength of the defensive line is found in the pass rushing abilities of DE Romeo Okwara and DL Emmanuel Ogbah but the unit is not stout against the run. That means the front seven will need top efforts out of ILBs Nick Kwiatkoski and Joe Schobert if it is to hold up against good rushing teams with powerful offensive lines. CB Ron Darby is tops in the secondary and the group is balanced overall but not elite.
5) Kansas City Chiefs (3-13, Last Place): Coach Robert Baker takes over in KC after the resignation of long-time coach Robert Parrish. The team has future potential starting with the electric skills of QB Kyler Murray. Damien Harris and Austin Ekeler form an intriguing backfield and the two will get added help from a trio of other ball carriers: AJ Dillon, Royce Freeman, and Dare Ogunbowale. Cordarrell Patterson could chip in as well. Tyler Lockett, Greg Ward, and Antonio Brown figure to be the mainstays at WR with Henry Ruggs adding deep ball potential. T Garrett Bolles is a top tier player at his position along with C/G Cody Whitehair and G AJ Cann manning the offensive line. DL JJ Watt and DE Carlos Dunlap can get after opposing QBs and DL DeShawn Williams should supply some run support inside. Damien Wilson is the best they have at line-backer, and this is a weak area of the club for sure. The secondary is almost in as bad shape as the line-backing unit and the entire back seven just is not strong enough to hold up most weeks.
Posted on 27 Dec 2021 by dolphins
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