The AFC West has seen the biggest changes of any division in the NFL heading into 2022.
The Denver Broncos added quarterback Russell Wilson.
The Las Vegas Raiders added wide receiver Davante Adams.
The Los Angeles Chargers added Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson to their defense.
All while the defending division champion Kansas City Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill.
This division is now loaded with four teams that all have legitimate shots to make the playoffs.
Due to the new playoff format, every team making the playoffs from one division is a possibility.
The best chance for each of these teams to get into the playoffs is if they all go 3-3 in the division.
Since they all play each other two times, splitting games between each other and then beating the rest of the league could see each team get around 10 wins.
With 10 wins in most seasons being good enough to reach the playoffs.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Chiefs are the favorites to win the division followed by the Chargers, Broncos, and Raiders.
Let us get into each team and figure out how they can make the postseason.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are looking to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
With Justin Herbert under center and a reloaded defense, there is no reason the Chargers should not have a very good season.
Literally just stopping by to post Justin Herbert highlights ⚡️
I can't wait for Week 1.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/GJmYxRqRCA
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) August 24, 2022
The Chargers made had a chance to get into the Wild Card round with a win in Week 18 of last season, before falling to the Raiders.
This could be the last chance head coach Brandon Staley gets to take his team to the playoffs.
Herbert is a legitimate MVP candidate after throwing for 5,000 yards last season, and with weapons like Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams in the fold, this offense will be explosive.
This team may be the most talented in the division and this is the year they win the West.
Kansas City Chiefs
As long as Patrick Mahomes is quarterbacking the Chiefs they will always be competitive.
But, the loss of Hill will hurt their offensive production.
They tried to fill the hole left by Hill when they signed JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and added Skyy Moore in the draft.
Travis Kelce is still in the fold as probably the best tight end in the league, so Mahomes will have some guys to throw to.
At worst the Chiefs will be a Wild Card team, but Mahomes gives them the best odds to win the division again.
Denver Broncos
Denver has struggled to find a quarterback ever since Peyton Manning left in 2015.
Now they have superstar Russell Wilson leading their team into 2022.
Along with Wilson, they have a new head coach, Nathaniel Hackett.
They have a good pair of wide receivers in Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.
Plus, their defense has always been solid.
For a team that won seven games last year with both Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock at QB, they should take a huge step forward in their first season with Wilson.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders may be the one team most unlikely to make the playoffs of the four just because they have the worst QB in the division.
By no means is Derek Carr a bad quarterback, but he is not as good as the other three.
Carr is still plenty good to get the Raiders back to the playoffs and the addition of Adams will be great for their offense.
Here's where Davante Adams ranks among other WRs in the NFL since 2016:
Receptions: 1st
Receiving yards: 1st
Receiving TD: 1st
100-yard games: T-1st
150-yard games: 2nd
Multi-TD games: 1stHe ALWAYS has his Terminator mask on #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/2J0y8zwQS4
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) August 24, 2022
Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller give the Raiders a great group of weapons.
Plus, they have one of the best pass-rushers in football in Maxx Crosby.
New head coach Josh McDaniels looks to have more success in this division than he did the first time around when he coached Denver.
The Raiders may have the worst odds to win the division but they are still plenty talented to get one of the three Wild Card spots.
NEXT: The Cowboys Must Act Now After The Tyron Smith Injury
