Oakland Raiders lead 4 big surprises in the AFC West

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 4: Running back Jalen Richard #30 of the Oakland Raiders watches as a punt lands out of bounds at the 15 yard line late in the second quarter on December 4, 2016 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders won 38-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

3. The Chiefs struggle to repeat the magic of 2018

The Kansas City Chiefs were must-see-TV in 2018. That said, they will come back to the pack in 2019. You can’t say that the AFC West is wide open, but to automatically give Kansas City a pass to another AFC Championship Game is premature, especially since we don’t know if Patrick Mahomes can pull off the magic act for a second straight season.

Worthy of note is that the Chiefs have a brand new defense headed up by new staff and a new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo. That’s one wrinkle for 2019. Another could be some of the issues that may still serve as a hangover from last season, specifically Tyreek Hill. While Kansas City looks to have adjusted after the departure of Kareem Hunt, Hill potentially being out for any significant time could loom large for the Chiefs.

Mahomes is still the biggest factor in the division and perhaps in the NFL. While he’s entering his third season, it will only be his second as a starter. The idea that he picks up where he left off is naive. The Chiefs and Mahomes will have a significant target on their back. In 2018, they were something of a league darling with their high flying offense. This season, they will be more the hunted than the hunter.

Kansas City doesn’t win the AFC West. They also don’t go 5-1 in a division that is better than it was last season.

Kansas City Chiefs Predicted Record: 10-6

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