On paper, the LA Chargers have one of the most talented rosters in the entire sport. While paper does not play football games, this has all the makings of being the year where the Bolts finally break their AFC West drought.
The Chargers have the talent to win just about every division in the NFL, but of course, they have to be in the toughest division in the entire sport. The AFC West is loaded with talent this upcoming season and whichever team does win the division is going to have to go through the ringer.
That team is going to be the Bolts. Outside of talent alone, there are several reasons to be confident about the Chargers this upcoming season, particularly when compared to the other teams in the division.
3 reasons why the LA Chargers will win the AFC West in 2022:
1. The Kansas City Chiefs have gotten worse and have a brutal schedule
The Kansas City Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West as they have dominated the division since Peyton Manning retired. While we become numb to the Chiefs' greatness and many just assume they are going to win the division every year, this year is different.
First of all, it is undeniable that Kansas City got worse this season. They can tout the new receivers in the building all they want, you cannot replace an elite, top-five wide receiver with depth. There is a reason why elite receivers are elite receivers.
Kansas City had some pretty big losses on the defensive side of the ball and all of this is compounded by the fact that the Chiefs have the hardest schedule in the entire league. In fact, using Warren Sharp's method of strength of schedule (which is superior as it uses 2022 win total predictions), there is nobody even close to the Chiefs.
updated strength of schedule 🚨
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 12, 2022
as the betting market changes, so does SOS
this is updated as of today
teams with the easiest shift from 2021 ➡️ 2022?
Giants
Commanders
Lions
teams with the hardest shift from 2021 ➡️ 2022?
Bengals
Pats
Bills
more: https://t.co/vsnYUpH4tr pic.twitter.com/nGyufbfPr3
The Chiefs have been a lock to win 12 games over the last half-decade. This year, even with an extra game, it is going to take a lot to get to 10 wins.