Regular season kicked off this Thursday as the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina panthers 21-20. It was a thriller of a game, setting the tone for the competition within the AFC West this year.
This looks to be a powerhouse with three teams with their eye on a postseason appearance, making for what should be a very intriguing 2016 season.
Here’s a look at how the AFC West teams will matchup in Week 1 action.
Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints, Sunday 1PM EST
The revamped Raiders open the season on the road in a tough environment against one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Drew Brees. Oakland has had their share of issues on the east coast time zone, but they look to change that reputation this year.
Derek Carr has a great offense to work with, so look for them to put a lot of points on the board, the issue for the Raiders in this one will be containing Brees and the Saints offense.
Oakland’s defense has greatly improved over the offseason and this week is a great test for them. They showed struggles in preseason, and with a lot of new players it may take some time for them to gel. That being said, the Raiders have a great shot at winning this game.
The Saints defense struggled last season, and with this Oakland offense capable of marching downfield they can strike at any moment.
The silver and black have been one of the most talked about teams as of late after their intriguing offseason and revamped roster. On paper they are stacked with talent and depth, but none of that matters unless it translates to the field.
Everyone is excited to see how this Raiders team reacts to the praise they have received thus far and how their young players will follow up a solid 2015 campaign.
They have high expectations, and this Week 1 matchup can provide a huge boost of momentum to start the year off right.
Final Score Prediction
Raiders 27 Saints 20
San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday 1PM EST
The first divisional matchup of the season goes to the Chargers and Chiefs. These two teams have had success reaching the playoffs and look to do so again this year.
The Chargers have suffered on the injury front a lot the past few seasons, but are always in the game and give their division rivals a tough time. Led by their quarterback Philip Rivers, this offense is capable of putting points on the board against any defense.
The Bolts were finally able to reach an agreement with Joey Bosa, who will immediately help this defense, but after a minor hamstring injury, the defensive end is most likely out for their season opener.
He played zero minutes in the preseason, which is a huge disadvantage for both him and this defense as a whole. His status for the game was questionable to begin with, but after dealing with the injury he is doubtful.
The Chiefs will look to take advantage of the Chargers in this one, but will most likely have to do so without star running back Jamaal Charles. Charles is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. The running back had season ending knee surgery last year, but the Chiefs were still able to earn a Wild Card spot, however there’s no doubt this is a much stronger offense with Charles at RB.
Defensively, KC will be without leading pass rusher Justin Houston, who will miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
Divisional matchups are always fun, but regardless of the Chiefs injuries, they are the clear favorite in this one. The Chargers have done little in the offseason to revamp their roster and the Chiefs are coming off a playoff loss in the divisional round. KC has defied the odds and overcome a lot to continue to be a threat in the AFC. They are not a team to be taken lightly in any situation.
Final Score Prediction
Chargers 17 Chiefs 27
Week 1 can be a toss up. Teams are getting back into the rhythm of game action and playing the entire four quarters and getting back in the swing of things. But the beauty of the game of football is it is any given Sunday; any team or player can take you by surprise.