Melvin Gordons prolonged holdout and Derwin James foot injury in L.A., Antonio Browns head-to-toe spectacle in Oakland, and a spinning turnstile of head coaches and quarterbacks in Denver all complicate efforts to unseat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
Not that its status quo in KC. The Chiefs defensive makeover features new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and as many as eight new starters.
Patrick Mahomes, the MVP who threw for 5,000-plus yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as a starter, never touched the ball in overtime of the AFC championship because Kansas Citys defenders couldnt get off the field against the Patriots after New England won the coin toss.
That rendered the biggest breakout star of 2018 another sad spectator at Arrowhead Stadium as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick hoisted their ninth Lamar Hunt Trophy together.
We were super close, Mahomes said. We fell just short.
Mahomes has just about everyone back in his quest to get the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years, including star receiver Tyreek Hill , cleared to play by the NFL following an offseason domestic violence investigation.
Among the Chiefs new defenders are free safety Tyrann Mathieu and pass rusher Frank Clark, who replaced Dee Ford, whose offside penalty in the AFC championship negated Charvarius Wards interception in the final minute of regulation.
As painful as that loss was, coach Andy Reid called it a great learning tool.
I think its great for our football team to have that opportunity, to see the intensity that it takes to play at that level, said Reid, whose Philadelphia Eagles lost three straight NFC championships before breaking through with a trip to the Super Bowl following the 2004 season.
The Chargers are the Chiefs biggest threat in the AFC West, where Denver and Oakland continue rebuilds:
CHARGERS CHAGRIN
The Chargers are considered one of the AFCs top teams, but they didnt have a smooth summer with Gordons holdout; left tackle Russell Okung missing camp with blood clots; wide receiver Keenan Allen dealing with an ankle injury; and safety Nassir Adderley, a second-round pick, hampered by a pulled hamstring.
Then James, their All-Pro safety, broke his right foot at a practice against the New Orleans Saints in mid-August and required surgery thats expected to sideline him for at least three months. Hell be replaced by Adrian Phillips.
This is the second straight year the Chargers go into the season without one of their top defenders. Pass rusher Joey Bosa missed the first nine games last season with turf toe, although Philip Rivers led Los Angeles to a 7-2 start on its way to a 12-4 season before the second-round exit from the playoffs.
The 17th overall pick in 2018, James made a team-high 105 tackles to go with four interceptions, 3½ sacks and 13 pass breakups his rookie season.
