Going into the 2023 season, AFC West Rivals are trying to catch up to the Chiefs by making big moves, but it won’t be enough to catch up this year.
With the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, NFL rosters are beginning to take shape heading into OTAs. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West Division the previous seven seasons, and Patrick Mahomes has a remarkable 27-3 record vs. the AFC West teams. In all empires, there comes a time when dominance comes to an end, but I am here to tell you 2023 is not that time.
Chiefs fans can look as early as last offseason when the national media had severe doubts regarding the Chiefs coming off a second-half collapse against the Joe Burrow-led Bengals in the AFC Championship game during the 2021 Arrowhead Invitational. Then, the Denver Broncos traded for Russell Wilson, who would be the Chiefs’ downfall. And let’s not forget the reuniting of Derek Carr and his college roommate Davante Adams. Finally, the Los Angeles Chargers bolstered their defensive line with free agent Khalil Mack on the other side of Pro Bowler Joey Bosa.
With all those additions, here is a brief rundown of where those teams ended up at the end of the season.
BREAKING: Chargers unveil new logo pic.twitter.com/RMC3gAn6ZA
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 15, 2023
This tweet followed the Charger’s second-half implosion in the Wild Card round of the 2022 Playoffs. The Chargers carried a 27-7 lead into halftime, had a total team collapse against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and ended up losing 31-30 to end their season. The Falcons logo is a call back to the most remarkable comeback in Super Bowl history when the Falcons held a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots and ended up losing 34-28 in Super Bowl 51.
Russell Wilson with a massive bump on his head after the play where he got injured pic.twitter.com/ikAx9tdDOV
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 11, 2022
The hot addition to the AFC West was All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson, acquired from Seattle in a trade. This bump was from the last time he played the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos played the Chiefs close, but in the end, the Chiefs left with a victory, and Wilson left with a bump on his head.
Raiders are benching Derek Carr and will start Jarrett Stidham the rest of the season pic.twitter.com/gPjYBul4jM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 28, 2022
The Las Vegas Raiders had a lot of hope going into the 2022 Season with the hiring of Josh McDaniels and the signing of high-flying all-pro receiver Davante Adams. Unfortunately, the Raider’s season ended with the benching of their long-time pro-bowl quarterback and a 6-11 season.
It doesn’t have to be reiterated, but the 2022 season disappointed the AFC West, except for the Kansas City Chiefs. The LA Chargers were an excellent team, but injuries kept them from consistently putting their entire arsenal of weapons on the field, so they fell short in 2022.