AFC West becoming a serious division again

[scho63]

We all sorta expected it at some point. The Donkeys and Bolts have substantially improved so it looks like the cakewalks of years prior won't be so easy. They would give us the division by like game 8. Not this year even though we are highly likely to close it out again. End of year division games may mean much more this year.

I think it's better for the Chiefs as they have to focus for every game and the proof will be in the results. No easy games.

Then you have the Raiders, who are the Browns or Jets of the West. They have one or two big victories a year like beating the Ravens this year and us last year.

As we finish up 2024 with a Super Bowl march and look at 2025 and beyond, our drafts, the ability to execute in free agency and having a season with fewer injuries will be much more important.

Beating them will be tougher BUT much more rewarding.

Here's to a better overall, more respected AFC West.........

[Jewish Rabbi]

Have you improved your sex life or do you still have to buy hookers?

[emaw1979]

I loved the Harbaugh and Peyton hires. Honestly, I wouldn't have been mad if Reid retired and KC hired one of them. Both are fantastic coaches and significant upgrades to their previous coaches....and after sucking ass for so long, they are loaded with talent.

Then there are the Raiders...

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by emaw1979

I loved the Harbaugh and Peyton hires. Honestly, I wouldn't have been mad if Reid retired and KC hired one of them. Both are fantastic coaches and significant upgrades to their previous coaches....and after sucking ass for so long, they are loaded with talent.

Then there are the Raiders...

Sean Peyton is a low life piece of shit coach that paid players (bounty gait) to end careers of football players. I would be pissed if he ever coached the Chiefs. He fits the Broncos with their history of cut blocking.

With Andy Reid, he gives us integrity.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

Sean Peyton is a low life piece of shit coach that paid players (bounty gait) to end careers of football players. I would be pissed if he ever coached the Chiefs. He fits the Broncos with their history of cut blocking.

With Andy Reid, he gives us integrity.

I always like how bounty gate is brought up and it completely covers over the fact that Sean Peyton was stealing using and selling pain pills.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I always like how bounty gate is brought up and it completely covers over the fact that Sean Peyton was stealing using and selling pain pills.

I care a lot more about bounty gate because it actually potentially imapcts my team. That other crap is his problem so I don't give a shit.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by emaw1979

I loved the Harbaugh and Peyton hires. Honestly, I wouldn't have been mad if Reid retired and KC hired one of them. Both are fantastic coaches and significant upgrades to their previous coaches....and after sucking ass for so long, they are loaded with talent.

Then there are the Raiders...

Peyton is scum.

[notorious]

Our division has played the shit teams this season (except for KC).

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by notorious

Our division has played the shit teams this season (except for KC).

Schedules are so similar aside from 2 games, right? Not a lot of difference there.

[Womble]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Schedules are so similar aside from 2 games, right? Not a lot of difference there.

3 games. We have to play the top seeds from the other 2 AFC divisions and an additional game against a team in the NFC which finished with a similar standing in 2023-24, which was the 49ers.

In that additional NFC game the Chargers played the Cardinals and the Broncos played the Seahawks.

[DrunkBassGuitar]

Originally Posted by Womble

3 games. We have to play the top seeds from the other 2 AFC divisions and an additional game against a team in the NFC which finished with a similar standing in 2023-24, which was the 49ers.

In that additional NFC game the Chargers played the Cardinals and the Broncos played the Seahawks.

This is one thing I tend to forget, the NFL does try to prevent years long dynasties. What they want is teams rotating in and out of being contenders. You do well, you have to play a tougher schedule and you have less chances to draft good players, which should over time bring you down. Like, they in a way punish success, which makes sense, they want people who follow a team like Denver or Steelers to have a reason to watch every week and remain invested.

[Best22]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Schedules are so similar aside from 2 games, right? Not a lot of difference there.

You got the Jets and Colts, we got the Bills and Texans. Chargers will face the Dolphins and Jaguars

Yeah it makes a difference

[RedinTexas]

Originally Posted by Best22

You got the Jets and Colts, we got the Bills and Texans. Chargers will face the Dolphins and Jaguars

Yeah it makes a difference

Could you imagine the whining of the NFL if the Chiefs faced the Jets rather than the Bills, and the Colts rather than the Texans? Our only loss on the year right now is to the Bills, and one of their only 2 losses is to the Texans. Yeah, you're right. It makes a difference.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Best22

You got the Jets and Colts, we got the Bills and Texans. Chargers will face the Dolphins and Jaguars

Yeah it makes a difference

On paper before the season, it looks fairly significant… no so much though as it plays out. Yeah, the Bills are the biggest difference, but that’s expected. It’s not as if Denver and Chargers have been feasting on winless teams and KC has run through this gauntlet of mega teams.

[RedinTexas]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

On paper before the season, it looks fairly significant… no so much though as it plays out. Yeah, the Bills are the biggest difference, but that’s expected. It’s not as if Denver and Chargers have been feasting on winless teams and KC has run through this gauntlet of mega teams.

So, if it doesn't make a difference, then why do it? How about next year we give the Broncos the "most difficult" schedule and the Chiefs the "easiest" schedule? You say it's only "on paper," but if you take a look at the current standings, you'll notice that those 2 AFC games that the Chiefs have scheduled differently than the Broncos were both against teams either in first place in their division or nearly so, but both well above .500. OTOH, the Broncos had those 2 games against a last place team, and another that while in 2nd place in their division is still under .500.

The NFL is an extremely difficult league in which to win. Having 12% of your games against competition that is clearly much better than average, versus 12% of your schedule against competition that is either clearly much worse than average or around average is a decided advantage.

The competition for the #1 seed and the final playoff spots will be fierce. A single game decided by the bounce of a football can put teams either in or out of the playoffs. Playing a more difficult schedule makes a big difference.