By Marc Lawrence
We said it last year and we reaffirm it once against this year - a gnarled veteran will be on 'mission' to return his team back to the playoffs after suffering just his second losing season in 13 years with this club. That's the plight of Denver's Mike Shanahan in 2008.
In addition, San Diego's Norv Turner will be out to dispel the belief that that Chargers made it to the playoffs in spite of his being on the sidelines. Coupled with the Chiefs and Raiders hungry to return to their winning ways, the AFC West looks like a wide-open division up for grabs this season.
Here is my take of teams in the AFC WEST DIVISION for 2008.
AFC WEST
DENVER
Team Theme - DUTY CALL
With win totals plummeting faster in Denver than George Dubya's likeability index, it's suddenly back-to-the-wall time for Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan. On the heels of a 7-9 season, Shanahan is officially in a "mission season" and because of that we say 'forewarned is forearmed'. In his NFL career as a head coach, in the four seasons after his team failed to produce a winning record, Shanahan has bounced back a winner each and every time (42-25). When taking points in those "mission years", his teams were 14-7 ATS, including 10-2 SU and ATS as a dog of 3 or less points. To further enhance his chances, Shanahan will take on the league's 4th easiest schedule in 2008, with his opponents owning a .445 win percentage last season. If you're making plans for the holidays, don't invite the Shanahans. They'll be busy preparing for the playoffs.
PLAY ON: vs. New England (10/20)
KANSAS CITY
Team Theme - DREGS TO RICHES
One of the rewards for finishing near the bottom of the barrel in the NFL is having the luxury of landing quality players via the draft. The Chiefs did just that when they hit a home run in this year's draft, landing 12 players that will vie for spots on a roster that must be rebuilt from head to toe. The best of those draftees was DT Glenn Dorsey from LSU who, if healthy, may prove to be the best player selected this year. After opening the 2007 season 4-3, Kansas City entered it's bye-week with playoff visions on its mind. Those dreams turned to nightmares when they failed to win a game the rest of the season. Until the Chiefs settle on a quarterback, they'll once again battle the Raiders for the cellar in the AFC West Division.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Denver (12/7)
OAKLAND
Team Theme - RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART
It's truly sad to watch a once great football franchise unravel before your eyes. Unbelievably, it was only five years ago that the Raiders lost to Tampa Bay as 4-point favorites in the Super Bowl. Since then, the Black-n-Silver have tarnished like a serving platter left out in the rain, going 19-61 SU and 26-53-1 ATS, including 4-26 SU and 10-20 ATS in division play. In that span since SBXXXVII, Oakland owner Al Davis has employed four coaches and has nothing to show for it. To say Davis is fine with everything is to say George Bush actually believed there were "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. We invaded; we searched; we destroyed - and like Davis, came up empty. With only 4 games against foes that were in the playoffs last season, here's hoping the Raiders discover the lost art of winning in 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Denver (9/8)
SAN DIEGO
Team Theme - NORV IS NERVOUS
On the surface, all appears hunky-dory in Chargerville. Norv Turner answered murmurs of his being an inept NFL coach when the Chargers rebounded from a 1-3 start to win 12 of its next 15 games, only to fall one game short of making a Super Bowl appearance. In addition, they rewarded their backers handsomely, going 14-5 ATS, including nine covers in their last nine games of the season. Despite all that success, the Bolts somehow allowed more yards than they gained on the year, slipping 42 YPG offensively and 21 YPG defensively while scoring 5 PPG less than the previous season (under Marty Schottenheimer). What does that tell you? Against a terribly soft schedule this year, it tells you they will be a high-priced commodity with 'inside-out' numbers or, in other words, a team we wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. Remember, bandwagon hopping, like germs, can be contagious and unhealthy.
PLAY AGAINST: as a favorite vs. Denver (12/28)
We said it last year and we reaffirm it once against this year - a gnarled veteran will be on 'mission' to return his team back to the playoffs after suffering just his second losing season in 13 years with this club. That's the plight of Denver's Mike Shanahan in 2008.
In addition, San Diego's Norv Turner will be out to dispel the belief that that Chargers made it to the playoffs in spite of his being on the sidelines. Coupled with the Chiefs and Raiders hungry to return to their winning ways, the AFC West looks like a wide-open division up for grabs this season.
Here is my take of teams in the AFC WEST DIVISION for 2008.
AFC WEST
DENVER
Team Theme - DUTY CALL
With win totals plummeting faster in Denver than George Dubya's likeability index, it's suddenly back-to-the-wall time for Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan. On the heels of a 7-9 season, Shanahan is officially in a "mission season" and because of that we say 'forewarned is forearmed'. In his NFL career as a head coach, in the four seasons after his team failed to produce a winning record, Shanahan has bounced back a winner each and every time (42-25). When taking points in those "mission years", his teams were 14-7 ATS, including 10-2 SU and ATS as a dog of 3 or less points. To further enhance his chances, Shanahan will take on the league's 4th easiest schedule in 2008, with his opponents owning a .445 win percentage last season. If you're making plans for the holidays, don't invite the Shanahans. They'll be busy preparing for the playoffs.
PLAY ON: vs. New England (10/20)
KANSAS CITY
Team Theme - DREGS TO RICHES
One of the rewards for finishing near the bottom of the barrel in the NFL is having the luxury of landing quality players via the draft. The Chiefs did just that when they hit a home run in this year's draft, landing 12 players that will vie for spots on a roster that must be rebuilt from head to toe. The best of those draftees was DT Glenn Dorsey from LSU who, if healthy, may prove to be the best player selected this year. After opening the 2007 season 4-3, Kansas City entered it's bye-week with playoff visions on its mind. Those dreams turned to nightmares when they failed to win a game the rest of the season. Until the Chiefs settle on a quarterback, they'll once again battle the Raiders for the cellar in the AFC West Division.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Denver (12/7)
OAKLAND
Team Theme - RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART
It's truly sad to watch a once great football franchise unravel before your eyes. Unbelievably, it was only five years ago that the Raiders lost to Tampa Bay as 4-point favorites in the Super Bowl. Since then, the Black-n-Silver have tarnished like a serving platter left out in the rain, going 19-61 SU and 26-53-1 ATS, including 4-26 SU and 10-20 ATS in division play. In that span since SBXXXVII, Oakland owner Al Davis has employed four coaches and has nothing to show for it. To say Davis is fine with everything is to say George Bush actually believed there were "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. We invaded; we searched; we destroyed - and like Davis, came up empty. With only 4 games against foes that were in the playoffs last season, here's hoping the Raiders discover the lost art of winning in 2008.
PLAY AGAINST: vs. Denver (9/8)
SAN DIEGO
Team Theme - NORV IS NERVOUS
On the surface, all appears hunky-dory in Chargerville. Norv Turner answered murmurs of his being an inept NFL coach when the Chargers rebounded from a 1-3 start to win 12 of its next 15 games, only to fall one game short of making a Super Bowl appearance. In addition, they rewarded their backers handsomely, going 14-5 ATS, including nine covers in their last nine games of the season. Despite all that success, the Bolts somehow allowed more yards than they gained on the year, slipping 42 YPG offensively and 21 YPG defensively while scoring 5 PPG less than the previous season (under Marty Schottenheimer). What does that tell you? Against a terribly soft schedule this year, it tells you they will be a high-priced commodity with 'inside-out' numbers or, in other words, a team we wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. Remember, bandwagon hopping, like germs, can be contagious and unhealthy.
PLAY AGAINST: as a favorite vs. Denver (12/28)
