L.A. Chargers picked to win AFC West over Chiefs by Bleacher Report

Bleacher Report joins the annual offseason chorus by publishing their doubts that the Chiefs can, once again, win the AFC West.

What’s three consecutive division titles in a row? Furthermore, what does it matter that a team has the reigning NFL MVP under center after only a single season as a starting quarterback? The best tight end in the game doesn’t apply here either, nor does the NFL’s best deep threat. While we’re throwing away other things, we might as well pile on the most creative offensive mind in the game, a totally revamped defense and an overall team that nearly beat the Patriots and the officials to make it to the Super Bowl.

Bleacher Report just released their expert picks for the NFL’s eight division winners for the 2019 regular season, and if you cannot already tell, the Kansas City Chiefs were slighted in the AFC West. In fact, it wasn’t even a close race. Six of the eight analysts went with the Los Angeles Chargers (because we’ve never heard this chorus before).

This doesn’t leave K.C. out in the cold at all, but it does stop the team from putting together a fourth consecutive AFC West title, at least in the minds of the experts at B/R. The Chiefs are certainly capable of making the postseason, and these experts would certainly put Andy Reid and company in the playoffs. However, they think the Chargers are simply too loaded for the regular season to fall behind Patrick Mahomes. According to one expert:

"The Chargers finished with the same overall record as the Kansas City Chiefs last season, yet the Chiefs should regress due to multiple changes throughout the lineup (and remaining uncertainty of a potential Tyreek Hill suspension)."

That’s fine to underestimate the Chiefs defensive changes from last year. Seeing is believing and shuffling around a lot of pieces on paper doesn’t tell us anything until the pads are on and the games really matter. That much makes sense. But an already dynamic offense added Mecole Hardman to the mix, and Sammy Watkins is healthy and with the team for the full offseason. In addition, Mahomes now has a year as a starter under his belt, giving him experience against anything other teams can throw at him.

Unless the NFL shocks everyone with a massive suspension for Hill, it’s just hard to imagine Andy Reid and company allowing this team to fall behind last year’s progress made, especially when the defense has been renovated top to bottom. Even more, what does a team have to do to earn the benefit of the doubt these days? Has Reid not proven his ability to win year after year no matter what other teams are doing?

We should know better as Chiefs fans. The offseason chorus is all about turning heads and making wild guesses. If it’s boring to everyone else, that’s just fine with us. We’ve little reason to doubt that the Chiefs will pull together their fourth consecutive division title this coming season.