A look at the AFC
AFC WEST
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Going all the way: Even though the Chiefs ranked 20th in total offense last season, they have a couple of game-breakers in tight end Travis Kelce and all-around big-play threat Tyreek Hill. Alex Smith is a steady hand at quarterback who has won a lot of games, and Patrick Mahomes will make it fascinating to watch the team's future at that position. Kansas City has the ability to get hot and assemble long winning streaks.
They're doomed: The AFC West always proves to be a tough, so there's no coasting. The Chiefs have had warning-track power before, looking great in the regular season before gagging in the playoffs. This team was 26th in run defense last season, allowing 121.1 yards per game on the ground.
Now hear this: "It's Alex's job. That's what it is. There's no gray area with that." - coach Andy Reid on the veteran Smith starting at quarterback, as opposed to Mahomes, the rookie first-round pick
DENVER BRONCOS
Going all the way: The defense remains championship-caliber behind star linebacker Von Miller and that secondary. The team showed signs of being able to stop the run this summer, a real problem last year. The Broncos are hoping their offense springs to life under new coordinator Mike McCoy, the former San Diego coach who was the Broncos offensive coordinator for part of Peyton Manning's time there.
They're doomed: If they can't stop the run and can't run, the Broncos are going to be in big trouble. They're investing a lot of hope in quarterback Trevor Siemian, who's better than a lot of people think, but he's still Trevor Siemian. They sank to
