Football fans rejoice as the 2015 season is officially underway with a full slate of NFL action this Sunday.
For the AFC West, this has been one busy offseason. Players have come and gone, but these four teams have revamped their rosters in hopes of a playoff push.
Here’s a look at how they match up as they officially kickoff the 2015 campaign.
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans, Sunday 1 p.m. EST
KC’s lack of starpower at wide receiver was evident last year as they became the only team to not have a receiving touchdown by one of their wide outs. In order to resolve this issue and get quarterback Alex Smith some help, they brought in Jeremy Maclin, who was a top receiver in free agency.
The Texans are known for their defense which is led by an absolute beast in J.J. Watt. They will also have former number one overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. This could prove to be a tough day for Smith as the Chiefs offensive line has been questionable. Watt attacks the line and goes after the quarterback, so Smith could be in for a long day.
KC has a solid defense and will be favored against Brian Hoyer and company, so all eyes will be on how the Chiefs offense handles Watt and Clowney.
Final Score Prediction
Chiefs 17 Texans 10
Detroit Lions at San Diego Chargers, Sunday 4:05 p.m. EST
The Chargers will be without one of Philip Rivers best targets in Antonio Gates as he was suspended for the first four games after violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.
The Chargers don’t have an explosive offense with big name receivers, but they always manage to be in games and in the thick of the division race.
Last year they were plagued with injuries, especially on the offensive line, so they made sure that was an area with a lot of depth as they loaded up this offseason.
Looking at this matchup, the Lions have an advantage on offense with Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, however their defense has taken a hit with the loss of Ndamukong Suh.
This is an intriguing matchup and a good test for both teams to start the season, as both have their eyes set on making the postseason this year.
Final Score Prediction
Lions 24 Chargers 20
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos, Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST
The Broncos look to win the West once again this year with Peyton Manning leading the way, however much has been said about the way the Broncos and Manning were eliminated from last year’s playoffs, and some even questioned whether it was time for the sheriff to call it quits.
Denver lost Julius Thomas to free agency, but Manning still has Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Defensively, the Broncos are one of the better teams in the league, stopping some of the better offenses and giving Manning and company several opportunities to march downfield.
This is also an interesting matchup as Denver’s new head coach Gary Kubiak will face his former team in the Ravens. Kubiak was Baltimore’s offensive coordinator last season, therefore he has the inside scoop on Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense.
This has what it takes to be a great matchup between two really good teams. Both have high expectations for this season, so what better way to kick off the 2015 campaign than with a head-to-head matchup such as this.
Final Score Prediction
Ravens 24 Broncos 28
Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders, Sunday 4:25 p.m. EST
This has been quite the offseason for the Raiders. They welcome a new coach in Jack Del Rio, as well as many new faces on both offense and defense.
Quarterback Derek Carr now has Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper to work with, and Khalil Mack now gets to work alongside Justin Tuck and Aldon Smith, who was just signed by the Raiders Friday.
The Smith signing is a questionable one, but can potentially be a steal for the Raiders if he is able to get his act together and make a lifestyle change.
The Bengals are led by Andy Dalton, and have had much success in the regular season, but always struggle come January.
This will also be Hue Jackson’s return to the Coliseum after being fired by Reggie McKenzie after the 2011 season.
The Raiders have a tough schedule, but have a talented roster and are moving in the right direction. Although they have received much praise this offseason, the expectations remain low; that is something they seek to change early on in the year.
The Bengals have a fast paced offense with A.J. Green who is one of the top receivers in the league, and the Raiders secondary is a huge concern.
Final Score Prediction
Bengals 24 Raiders 23