by Jimmy Patrick

Created on: September 22, 2009

The AFC West could become one of the most competitive and intriguing divisions in the NFL as the 2009 season wears on. Most people want to hand the division title over to the San Diego Chargers without giving a thought to the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos or the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chargers are clearly the best team at the start of the season, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy watching the other three teams fight to take that title away.

In 2008 the Chargers struggled through some tough losses that included fluke plays, bad calls by referees and key injuries to star players like Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson. Players like Darren Sproles and Vincent Jackson helped pick up the slack, however and combined with quarterback Philip Rivers to win their final four games of the season and overtake the sliding Denver Broncos to win the division with an overall record of 8-8.

The Denver Broncos also finished 8-8, but missed the playoffs by virtue of tie breakers. Their collapse at the end of the season was so bad it led to the firing of long-tenured coach Mike Shanahan and an off-season tumult between star quarterback Jay Cutler and the new coach brought in from New England, Josh McDaniels. Cutler got so miffed, he got himself shipped out to Chicago in trade for Kyle Orton.

The Oakland Raiders finished 5-11 last season and watched their high-dollar quarterback JaMarcus Russell fail to blossom. The Kansas City Chiefs were 2-14 which led to the firing of head coach Herm Edwards. The off season brought Matt Cassel from New England to Kansas City and Richard Seymour from New England to Oakland. So, it would seem that the Patriots are slowly infiltrating the AFC West.

Will those successful players and coach from the Patriots bring winning ways with them to the struggling AFC West teams?

A big boost to the Denver Broncos will be the return of Champ Bailey. Bailey missed half the 2008 season with injury. The return of Bailey means the return of perhaps the best shut-down corner back in football.

Bailey's fellow Georgia alum, Knowshon Moreno was the first player drafted by the Broncos in 2009 and brings an electric talent to the running back position. It is never easy to know exactly how successful college players will perform in the NFL, but Moreno has a lots of potential.

Helping Moreno learn the ropes is nine-year veteran, Correll Buckhalter. After a successful career backing up Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia, the 30-year-old Buckhalter hopes

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