Denver Broncos
Best Case Scenario: Well, we've certainly seen Denver's best case scenario for two and a half seasons with Peyton Manning not just sustaining his performance but peaking after an already-HOF-worthy career. Manning obviously lost a step with a nasty quad injury in 2014, but with a full offseason to recover behind him, who's to say the Broncos can't do it again? With Gary Kubiak bringing his zone-blocking expertise to town and Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson adding serious muscle to Denver's running game, the new-look Broncos could work out surprisingly well.Worst Case Scenario: If you want to know what life at Mile High would be like without a healthy Peyton Manning, look no further than this team's miserable performance against the Colts in the last divisional round of the playoffs. As I say pretty much every year, Father Time is bearing down on the Broncos' playmaker and sooner or later that arm will lose too much zip to do more good than harm. If Manning faces a setback with current or new injuries before Week 8, it'll be tough for this team to hold serve atop the conference or division.
Prediction: I've decided to stop ruling out Old Man Peyton until I'm wrong, so I'm giving the Broncos a very solid 11 - 5 and their fifth consecutive AFC West title.
Kansas City Chiefs
Best Case Scenario: First of all, big congrats are due to Chiefs safety Eric Berry who returned to the field this August after beating lymphoma earlier this year. Berry has long been the heart of KC's defense, and the Chiefs are fortunate to have him back. On the football side of things, Berry's return and the acquisitions of real-live wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and guard Ben Grubbs mean the Chiefs should be better off than they were a year ago as a respectable 9-win team. Should Denver fall flat and KC up its consistency on offense, don't be too surprised if this team becomes the AFC West darkhorse in the wings.Worst Case Scenario: Almost half of the Chiefs' games this year are against teams that went to the playoffs last season, and since Andy Reid has taken over in Kansas City, this team's biggest challenge has been competing consistently with their better opponents. If last year's upsets over the Patriots and Seahawks were any indicator, the Chiefs are capable, but they could easily miss the playoffs with one too many turnovers or stalled offensive drives against stiff competition.
Prediction: If it weren't for what looks to be a very tough schedule, I'd bump the Chiefs up a win or two, but going 9 - 7 this year would be far from a wash and perhaps enough for another postseason bid too.
Oakland Raiders
Best Case Scenario: Rookie wideout Amari Cooper has a breakout year and takes Derek Carr and the Raiders' offense to the next level. Jack Del Rio gets the most out of Oakland's defense and leads this team to a surprising seven- or eight-win campaign that pumps up those personal seat license prices in L.A. for 2016.Worst Case Scenario: Cooper is little more than fantasy football window dressing for a team with tons of holes elsewhere on the roster. Del Rio returns to his late-Jaguars coaching form and keeps this team and Black Hole fanbase mired in misery for one more year.
Prediction: I'm all in on the Derek Carr-Amari Cooper connection, and the preseason has allowed me to overreact completely. It should be enough to improve the Raiders' season a little bit, but with questionable roster moves and coaching choices elsewhere, I still don't see Oakland's ceiling being much higher than 5 - 11.
San Diego Chargers
Best Case Scenario: With Philip Rivers locked in for the long term, the quiverfulled bolo-tie enthusiast gives the Chargers his all and has college standout Melvin Gordon to help balance this team's offensive attack like a vintage LaDanian Tomlinson. San Diego seizes the division from the sun-setting Broncos... and pumps up those personal seat license prices in L.A. for 2016.Worst Case Scenario: Now that Rivers has job security and a paycheck somehow rivaling that of Russell Wilson, he regresses to the turnover-prone gunslinger Chargers fans know and dread. Gordon resembles fellow trade-up bust Ryan Mathews more than LT, and with Antonio Gates suspended for the first part of the 2015 season, San Diego's offense just isn't good enough to win against better opponents. The team gets shipped north without much of a fight after another lackluster 8 - 8 season.
Prediction: For me, the x-factor in San Diego is Melvin Gordon. His NCAA accomplishments rivaled those of Barry Sanders at a time when quarterback play is everything, and the Chargers are arguably one running back away from being a serious contender. I think he'll be good enough to offset some but not all of Rivers' worse moments and keep the Chargers afloat at 9 - 7.
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