The Chiefs are currently the favorites to win the AFC West in 2019 at odds of -175 with the Chargers not far behind at +160. According to the current odds, the Broncos and Raiders will battle it out for last place, both at 10 to 1.
Note that all odds quoted in this article are from Jazz Sportsbook where you can open an account and stream all the games for free!
Mahomes Leads Favored Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes won the MVP last season with ridiculous numbers but looks for more after falling just short of the Super Bowl.
However, while the Chiefs will be stacked on offense again their main WR Tyreek Hill is still in a domestic violence situation that may cost home time on the field.
Still, they have Mahomes, a solid WR corps, TE Travis Kelse, and signed RB Carlos Hayde in the off-season.
The Chiefs came an off-sides call away from making the Super Bowl last season despite a defense that ranked 2nd to last in the league. They made some good signings on that side of the ball mainly getting Tyrann Mathieu to help the secondary.
Getting off to a good start may be key for KC, as in three of their last four games of the season they face the Patriots, Bears, and Chargers.
A Healthy Chargers May be a Division Winner
Last season the Chargers (+160) finished tied with the Chiefs at 12-4 and that was even though many key players were injured.
Phillip Rivers was big, once again, but Joey Bosa and RB Melvin Gordan each missed several games. Keenan Allen was the top WR and L.A. has the balance that can go far.
The Chargers did not make many off-season moves, but health is key. Bosa and Melvin Ingram are solid pass rushers and S Derwin James is a superstar in the making.
Can Rivers lead the Bolts to the promised land at 37 after coming close oh, so many times? Big question in La La Land.
Flacco New QB for the Broncos
Joe Flacco is the new starting QB for the Broncos (10/1) after the Case Keenum experience did not work out for the team that finished 6-10 last season. Is he an upgrade after a few less than stellar seasons in his last few for the Ravens?
RB Phillip Lindsey is coming off a +1,000-yard season and the WR corps is not bad, but Flacco lost his starting job last season to a rookie and it may be a long season in the Mile High City.
On top of the question marks with Flacco, the Denver defense only ranked 22nd in the league only ranking 19th against the pass and 22nd against the run. On top of that their top three picks in the draft were to take offensive players.
Last Year in Oakland for the Raiders
The Raiders (10/1) have one more year in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas and they head into the season with uncertainty.
David Carr is still the starter and the team made a big move in giving him star WR Antonio Brown, but Jon Gruden may still not be sold on Carr being his guy under center.
First round pick RB Josh Jacobs be the starter right away, but the Raiders still have issues.
The Oakland defense only ranked 26th in the league last season, their two other first round draft picks besides Jacobs were forecast to go much later than they were taken, and they added two big character issue guys in Vontaze Burfict and Richie Incognito.
Gruden is in his 2nd year at the helm for the Silver and Black and oddsmakwers are not giving him much of a chance to improve on his first one where he had four wins.