The AFC West in 2022 will likely be the best division in NFL history. Where do the Denver Broncos stand before the season starts? So many differing opinions have popped up this offseason from fans, media figures, and everyone in between about the AFC West, which is set to be an ultra-competitive division.
Each team has insane talent on its roster and stable quarterback situations. They all appear to have good head coaches and studs at some of the most important positions in the NFL. Oddsmakers have had a hard time predicting the winner of this division, as each team has a clear argument to finish first in the division at the end of the season.
The Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders are going to beat the heck out of each other when they all meet up during the season. Each team has a clear path to double-digit wins, and each could make a run in the playoffs.
So, how can we rank the AFC West heading into the 2022 season?
Where do the Broncos fall in the AFC West power rankings heading into 2022?
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are a solid team. They’ve got some dudes on both sides of the ball and made an excellent head coaching hire in Josh McDaniels. However, I think it’s clear that their roster talent is a distant fourth in the division.
If the Raiders were in the AFC South, for example, they’d clearly be the best team. And I think that holds true for many other divisions in the NFL. The Raiders went 10-7 last season and made the playoffs. I’d argue that they did improve their roster over the offseason, so it’d be reasonable to think that they could win more than 10 games in 2022, right?
Not exactly. The additions made by the Broncos and Chargers I think essentially cancel out what the Raiders did. Las Vegas has a less-than-ideal offensive line, and their secondary has serious question marks, which is also less than ideal being in the AFC West.
The Raiders should be a very good team in 2022, but I don’t see them finishing better than fourth in the division.