Football is officially back as this week kicks off the 2014 season. The AFC West sent three teams to the playoffs last year and each begin the 2014 campaign with hopes of building off their performances last season. Here’s a look at their Week 1 matchups.
Oakland Raiders at New York Jets
Overview
Head coach Dennis Allen made the call to start rookie quarterback Derek Carr over veteran Matt Schaub this year after his stellar performance against the Seahawks in the preseason finale. It will be no easy task for Carr and company against a Jets defense coached by Rex Ryan. The Raiders are 1-11 in week one games post 2002 and have lost 13 straight games in the east coast time zone. The Raiders have addressed this problem by flying out to NY a day earlier. The Raiders are taking a chance on Carr who they hope will continue to develop and be the franchise quarterback they need to turn this organization around.
Key Matchups
Raiders O-Line vs Jets D-Line: With a struggling secondary, Ryan is sure to be blitz-happy this Sunday. Carr is capable of exposing the Jets secondary, so the Raiders offensive line has to step it up and protect their rookie quarterback and give him time to throw the ball. Carr has shown he struggles a bit under pressure and the Jets will try and get to him. The Jets have shown they are good against the run and they will try to eliminate the run game from the Raiders and force Carr to throw the ball. Oakland’s game plan involves a heavy run game, but if it is ineffective, Carr is more than capable of executing a passing game.
Rod Streater and James Jones vs Jets Secondary: The Jets secondary will feature an inexperiened secondary including Antonio Allen. Carr and the Raiders offense will look to exploit that and lead the Raiders to the red zone.
Final Prediction (Raiders 27 Jets 24)
If Schaub was the starting quarterback for the Raiders, the Jets probably take this one, but Carr changes the Raiders offense. They look like a completely different team with Carr under center. Defensively, the Raiders have some issues in the secondary, but their defensive line is solid and should be able to hold off Geno Smith and the Jets offense. Expect the Raiders to pull the upset and start the season 1-0 for the first time in a long time.
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs
Overview
The Chiefs starting offense didn’t score a touchdown all preseason, and while it’s only preseason they showed some struggles after losing a few key players over the offseason. Quarterback Alex Smith recently signed a four year contract extension with KC which took awhile to complete, but a deal was made nonetheless.
Looking at this game, this should be a manageable win for KC. They will face a tough schedule this year, and while Jake Locker looks to be a real talent, there isn’t much around him offensively.
Key Matchups
Chiefs Offensive Line vs Titans Defensive Line: The Chiefs new O-line is inexperienced and Smith has shown that he struggles when under pressure. The Titans defense is one of their strengths and Jurrell Casey and Eric Fisher will lead the pass rush and attempt to get after Smith.
Chiefs Defensive Line vs Titans Offensive Line: The Chiefs defense is one of their strong suits and with Locker under center they will force a heavy pass rush. With Dontari Poe, Tamba Hali and Justin Houston on the defensive line, KC could have multiple sacks by the end of the game.
Final Prediction (Tennessee Titans 17 Kansas City Chiefs 27)
The Titans are a work in progress, and while the Chiefs have lost some key players due to free agency, they will start the season 1-0 with some help from their home crowd.
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
Overview
Peyton Manning and the Broncos will host his former team on Sunday Night Football in what is sure to be an entertaining game. The defending AFC Champs improved their defense this offseason and are expected to be just as dominating as they were last year. Manning will be without one of his favorite targets in Wes Welker due to suspension, and he also will be without Eric Decker who signed with the Jets this offseason.
The Colts are a talented team and made the playoffs last year behind a solid season from Andrew Luck. They will be rather pass happy with T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne.
Key Matchups
Aqib Talib vs T.Y. Hilton: Hilton will be a prime target for Luck on offense and the revamped Denver secondary will have their hands full with this battle. The Broncos went out and improved their defense and the pass heavy Colts will be a perfect test for this new secondary.
Montee Ball vs Colts O-Line: The Broncos are a pass heavy team, but they also had one of the most efficient run games in the league last season. They will try to establish the run and give Ball some carries this week.
Final Prediction (Broncos 31 Colts 24)
The Colts will be a challenge for the Broncos, but home field advantage will play a part for the Broncos, and adding their defensive acquisitions they should be able to keep Luck and the Colts offense at bay while Manning does his thing on offense.
San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
Overview
The Chargers will travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals on Monday Night Football. San Diego not only made the playoffs last year, but advanced to the divisional game behind a comeback season by Philip Rivers. The Chargers will look to build off a nice 2013 season and compete with the Broncos for first place in the AFC West, but they’ll have to kick off the 2014 season against a very good Cardinals team. In any event this should be a good matchup and an entertaining game.
Key Matchups
Larry Fitzgerald vs Brandon Flowers: Fitzgerald now has a solid quarterback in Carson Palmer throwing him the ball as he is one of the best receivers in the game. Flowers was a big acquisition for the Chargers this offseason, and the pro bowler will be up against one of the best in the game. This should be an interesting matchup for both the Cards and Chargers.
Cardinals Offensive Line vs Chargers Defensive Line: Arizona improved their offensive line by bringing in left tackle Jared Veldheer this offseason. Both Veldheer and Palmer have worked well together from their time in Oakland and have seen a lot of the Chargers over that time. For the Chargers, Dwight Freeney will be key to executing the pass rush and putting the pressure on Palmer.
Final Prediction (Arizona Cardinals 31 San Diego Chargers 27)
This will be a fun matchup for Monday Night Football between two very good teams, but the Cardinals have the edge with playing at home and a solid offense and defense.