Overhauls are usually reserved for bad teams that miss the playoffs, not ones that play in consecutive Super Bowls.
Kansas City’s general manager Brett Veach, however, was impelled to dismantle his offensive line after watching Patrick Mahomes run for his life in the team’s 31-9 shellacking at the hands of the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs were 3-point betting favourites to defend their title but injuries and opt-outs forced them to use a makeshift group, which was promptly steamrolled. By one calculation, Mahomes ran around for nearly 500 yards while trying to escape the Bucs’ relentless pass rush and find an open receiver.
So, Veach brought in five new starters to help protect the team’s half-billion dollar investment at quarterback.
He traded for Ravens left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and signed former Patriots left guard Joe Thuney, the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons.
The rest of the line hasn’t ever played in the NFL. Centre Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith are rookies and right tackle Lucas Niang opted out as a rookie in 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns.
“We’ve come together fast,” Niang said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but we’re doing a good job. Everybody’s communicating, getting on the same page.”
Mahomes figures this work-in-progress line will coalesce quickly.
“I mean obviously they’re all really talented,” Mahomes said. " ... When everybody is on the same exact page is when you have those truly great offensive lines and great offences.
“I think you see us as games are going on, we’re communicating better and better and I think we’ll continue to improve throughout the season.”
All the other familiar names are back – Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Clyde Edwards-Helaire – along with an improved defence, making K.C. the favourite for a sixth straight AFC West title and maybe a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.
No team has ever won six straight AFC West titles, and the division is tougher than it’s been in a half-decade. Both the Chargers and Raiders split with K.C. last season and the Broncos sport their deepest roster since winning it all in 2015.
BRONCOS BOUNCE BACK
Von Miller says Denver finally has the roster like the one he led to a championship parade five years ago.
“We have some of the same players we had last year, but our team looks totally different,” Miller said. “The energy is totally different. I know I get carried away with some of the comments about my teammates, and I have high expectations for my teammates. This year is going to be a great year for our guys.”
That will require big bounce-backs by Miller (ankle), WR Courtland Sutton (knee) and new QB Teddy Bridgewater, who went 4-11 in Carolina last year and beat out Drew Lock this summer.
NEW LOOK, NEW LUCK
By all indications, Brandon Staley had a successful first training camp as Los Angeles Chargers coach. The Bolts didn’t sustain any major injuries during training camp – something they could not say the past two seasons. Staley also stole a page from former boss Sean McVay and didn’t play most of his starters, including quarterback Justin Herbert, during the pre-season.
Herbert, the reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, quickly became one of the top young quarterbacks in the league last season, setting a rookie record with 36 TDs.
New offensive co-ordinator Joe Lombardi’s system, which is more up-tempo, should take advantage of Herbert’s strengths behind an O-line featuring four new starters, including left tackle and first-round pick Rashawn Slater.
On defence, all-purpose safety Derwin James’s return after missing last season (knee) gives the unit a big lift. James will call the plays and line up all over the field.
BLACK EYE
The Raiders are hoping off-season changes can boost a defence that allowed the most points per game and second-most yards per play in three seasons since coach Jon Gruden returned.
Defensive co-ordinator Paul Guenther was fired late last season and Gus Bradley was brought over from the Chargers with a simpler system that should allow the Raiders to be more aggressive.
The defensive line should be better with Yannick Ngakoue teaming with Maxx Crosby on the edge but questions still remain in the secondary.
TURNABOUT
Last year, the Raiders flaunted the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols more than any team, getting fined US$575,000 over the first month of the season for breaking the rules, from Gruden wearing his face mask like a chin strap to players appearing at a function where face-coverings weren’t used nor physical distancing observed.
This year, the Raiders became the first NFL team to require fans to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to attend home games without a mask at their gleaming new Allegiant Stadium, where fans weren’t allowed last year.
“Health and safety has always been our No. 1 priority,” Raiders owner Mark Davis said in a statement.
Players are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but the NFL has reported that more than 90 per cent of them are. The league has said outbreaks among unvaccinated players could lead to forfeits in 2021.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINSH
Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, Raiders.