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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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Denver Broncos during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

2. Joe Flacco is a bust for the Denver Broncos

There are a lot of reasons the Baltimore Ravens cut bait on quarterback Joe Flacco. He’s slid closer to mediocrity than holding the line as a valuable and winning NFL commodity. He’s not particularly quick on his feet and he’s lost some zip on his fastball. The idea that he can return to the form he displayed as a Super Bowl MVP is pie in the sky thinking.

Unfortunately for the Denver Broncos, that’s what general manager John Elway looks to be contemplating. As Elway continues to play whack-a-mole with the quarterback position, Denver continues to slide closer to the bottom of the division, potentially landing there in 2019.

The Broncos went 6-10 last season, and 2-4 in the division. They also finished on a four-game skid to close out the NFL year, and by extension, the Case Keenum experiment in Denver.

Let’s be clear, 6-10 wasn’t about Keenum, who is better than last season showed. The Broncos also haven’t drafted the heir apparent to the sunsetting of the Peyton Manning era. Elway, who managed to catch a strong tailwind when Manning finished his career in Denver, won’t have that kind of luck with Flacco.

The better bet may be that rookie Drew Lock gets the mop-up gig when the Broncos close the book on Flacco.

Denver Broncos Predicted Record: 5-11

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