This is the second part in our four-part look at the 32 teams in the NFL’s chances ahead of the big kick off in September.
And in this post, we will be moving onto the teams that compete in the AFC and NFC West Divisions.
This set of divisions include some of the favourites to win the Super Bowl this year and includes many of the hottest stars in the NFL right now.
As such, these teams do attract plenty of betting interest across the course of the season.
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Let’s now continue our look through the teams starting with the four AFC West teams.
AFC West Preview
Denver Broncos
Key Info
- Head Coach – Sean Payton
- Last Season’s Record – 5-12
- Key Losses – Dre’Mont Jones (DE), Calvin Anderson (T), Andrew Beck (FB)
- Key Additions – Mike McGlinchey (T), Frank Clark (DE), Zach Allen (DE)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Marvin Mims (WR), Drew Sanders (ILB), Riley Moss (CB)
- Top 3 Offense – Russell Wilson (QB), Jerry Jeudy (WR), Javonte Williams (RB)
- Top 3 Defense – Frank Clark (DE), Patrick Surtain II (CB), Nik Bonitto (OLB)
Sean Payton will be happy with the team he is inheriting here with a number of big signings in the free agency period, and a solid draft. They should be a better team than last season but in a very tough division.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing B+, Rushing B
- Defense – Against Pass B+, Against Rush B
- Special Teams – C
- Coaching – B+
- Total – B
Expect Payton to have a big impact as head coach, but it may not be enough for the playoffs in this very tough division.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 11/2
- Conference Champions – 25/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 40/1
Kansas City Chiefs
Key Info
- Head Coach – Andy Reid
- Last Season’s Record – 14-3
- Key Losses – Orlando Brown Jr (T), Andrew Wylie (T), Frank Clark (DE)
- Key Additions – Jawaan Taylor (T), Charles Omenihu (DE), Donovan Smith (T)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Felix Uzomah (DE), Rashee Rice (WR), Wanya Morris (T)
- Top 3 Offense – Patrick Mahomes (QB), Travis Kelce (TE), Joe Thuney (G)
- Top 3 Defense – Danny Shelton (DT), Chris Jones (DT), Trent McDuffie (CB)
Despote some key losses on the offensive line, expect Andy Reid to have his Chiefs team ready to dominate once again. Even in this tough division they are still the clear favourites.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing A, Rushing A-
- Defense – Against Pass B-, Against Rush B+
- Special Teams – B+
- Coaching – A
- Total – A-
Once again the Chiefs are more than ready for a shot at a Super Bowl. They’ll win the division but whether they get to the Championship game and beyond, I am not so sure this year.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 5/8 fav
- Conference Champions – 7/2 fav
- Super Bowl Winners – 6/1 fav
Las Vegas Raiders
Key Info
- Head Coach – Josh McDaniels
- Last Season’s Record – 6-11
- Key Losses – Derek Carr (QB)
- Key Additions – Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Jakobi Meyers (WR), Marcus Epps (S)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Tyree Wilson (DE), Michael Mayer (TE), Byron Young (DT)
- Top 3 Offense – Davante Adams (WR), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Jakobi Meyers (WR)
- Top 3 Defense – Maxx Crosby (DE), Trevon Moehrig (S), Chandler Jones (DE)
The Raiders still are somewhat fragmented. Jimmy G needs to step up as a leader and stay injury free. The latter may be more of an issue. For me there’s still too many holes in this roster to be a contender.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing B, Rushing B-
- Defense – Against Pass C+, Against Rush C
- Special Teams – C-
- Coaching – C+
- Total – C+
Everything is set up for success in Las Vegas, apart from the team. Josh McDaniel has got a real task to take this team into the playoffs, especially in this division.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 12/1
- Conference Champions – 28/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 40/1
Los Angeles Chargers
Key Info
- Head Coach – Brandon Staley
- Last Season’s Record – 10-7
- Key Losses – Drue Tranquil (LB), Matt Feiler (G), Deandre Carter (WR)
- Key Additions – Eric Kendricks (ILB), Nick Williams (DT),
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Quentin Johnson (WR), Tuli Tuipulotu (OLB), Daiyan Henley (ILB)
- Top 3 Offense – Justin Herbert (QB), Austin Ekeler (RB), Keenan Allen (WR)
- Top 3 Defense – Khalil Mack (OLB), Joey Bosa (OLB), J.C.Jackson (CB)
There’s lots of great players in this Chargers team, but they are yet to really show it consistently over the course of the season. Brandon Staley will know, it his time for his team to perform.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing A-, Rushing B
- Defense – Against Pass B-, Against Rush C
- Special Teams – C
- Coaching – B
- Total – B
This team will go as far as Justin Herbert can take them. He is an outstanding young QB who should be able to lead this team to the playoffs this season.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 3/1
- Conference Champions – 14/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 28/1
NFC West Preview
Arizona Cardinals
Key Info
- Head Coach – Jonathan Gannon
- Last Season’s Record – 4-13
- Key Losses – Zach Allen (DE), DeAndre Hopkins (WR), Byron Murphy (CB)
- Key Additions – Kyzir White (OLB), Hjalt Frohold (C), Dennis Daley (T)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Paris Johnson Jr (T), BJ Ojulari (OLB), Garrett Williams (CB)
- Top 3 Offense – Kyler Murray (QB), Zach Ertz (TE), Marquise Brown (WR)
- Top 3 Defense – Budda Baker (S), Kyzir White (ILB), Cam Thomas (OLB)
A few star names, but a roster that is packed with average or worse talent in the main.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing C+, Rushing C-
- Defense – Against Pass C-, Against Rush D-
- Special Teams – D
- Coaching – C-
- Total – D+
I think this season is going to be one that Cardinals fans are going to want to forget about. Can’t see them having any impact in this division.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 25/1
- Conference Champions – 80/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 175/1
Los Angeles Rams
Key Info
- Head Coach – Sean McVay
- Last Season’s Record – 5-12
- Key Losses – Nick Scott (S), Leonard Floyd (OLB), Matt Gay (K)
- Key Additions – Coleman Shelton (G)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Steve Avila (DT), Byron Young (DE), Kobie Turner (DT)
- Top 3 Offense – Cooper Kupp (WR), Matt Stafford (QB), Zach Thomas (T)
- Top 3 Defense – Aaron Donald (DT), Derion Kendrick (CB), Jordan Fuller (S)
McVay’s team are still one very much in transition and hampered by salary cap issues, they haven’t been able to make much headway over the last six months.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing B, Rushing D
- Defense – Against Pass B+, Against Rush C-
- Special Teams – C-
- Coaching – B
- Total – C+
Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Matt Stafford apart, this is a pretty ordinary set of Rams players who may well find themselves well behind the top two in the NFC West.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 9/1
- Conference Champions – 35/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 66/1
San Francisco 49ers
Key Info
- Head Coach – Kyle Shanahan
- Last Season’s Record – 13-4
- Key Losses – Mike McGlinchey (T), Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Samson Ebukam (DE)
- Key Additions – Javon Hargrave (DT), Isaiah Oliver (CB), Jon Feliciano (C)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Ji’Ayir Brown (S), Jake Moody (K), Cameron Latu (TE)
- Top 3 Offense – Christian McCaffrey (RB), Deebo Samuel (WR), George Kittle (TE)
- Top 3 Defense – Nick Bosa (EDGE), Fred Warner (MLB), Javon Hargrave (DT)
One of the most rounded teams in the NFL. There’s no real weakness in the 49ers team and several players amongst the very best at their positions in the NFL in their squad.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing B+, Rushing A
- Defense – Against Pass A-, Against Rush B+
- Special Teams – B-
- Coaching – A-
- Total – A-
The 49ers should stroll to the NFC West title once again and they should be a strong contender for the Conference Champions too. Definite Super Bowl contenders.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 4/7 fav
- Conference Champions – 7/2
- Super Bowl Winners – 9/1
Seattle Seahawks
Key Info
- Head Coach – Pete Carroll
- Last Season’s Record – 9-8
- Key Losses – Quinton Jefferson (DT), Cody Barton (LB), Marquise Goodwin (WR)
- Key Additions – Bobby Wagner (LB), Dremont Jones (DE), Julian Love (FS)
- Key 2023 Draft Picks – Devon Witherspoon (CB), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR), Derick Hall (OLB)
- Top 3 Offense – Geno Smith (QB), DK Metcalf (WR), Tyler Lockett (WR)
- Top 3 Defense – Dre’Mont Jones (DE), Jordyn Brooks (ILB), Tariq Woolen (CB)
Seattle are one of those teams who even when rebuilding, don’t seem to be rebuilding. They won’t topple the 49ers from atop this division, but they’ll push them hard.
Our Rankings (A to F)
- Offense – Passing B+, Rushing C-
- Defense – Against Pass B+, Against Rush C
- Special Teams – B-
- Coaching – A-
- Total – B
A solid team, a good passing game but much depends on the rush game with Rashad Penney now gone. If they can establish that, the playoffs beckon once again.
Latest Betting Odds with bet365
- Divisional Champions – 11/5
- Conference Champions – 14/1
- Super Bowl Winners – 33/1
*All odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport at the time of writing, but may have changed in the meantime.
