The Kansas City Chiefs have as good of a chance as anyone to win not just the AFC West, but to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl entering the 2016 NFL season. Under head coach Andy Reid, the team has found a steady balance behind their stout defense and quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs got off to a rocky start in 2015, starting at 1-5, before winning 10 straight games to finish the regular season at 11-5, earning a playoff berth. They would beat the Houston Texans 30-0 in the wildcard round, Kansas City’s first playoff victory in 22 years. The Chiefs won 11 consecutive games without star running back Jamaal Charles, who tore his ACL in Week 5. With Charles returning and Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce as his main targets, Smith should enjoy a more balanced offense. What makes the Chiefs contenders is their defense. The Chiefs rewarded outside linebacker Justin Houston with a big contract this offseason, and he, Tamba Hali, and Derrick Johnson make up one of the best linebacker groups in the NFL. Safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters were both Pro Bowlers and round out a strong secondary. The Chiefs and Denver Broncos should be in a tight race for the AFC West division, with the Oakland Raiders being much improved as well. The Chiefs should have no problem matching their win total from 2015.

The San Diego Chargers can go nowhere but up following a disappointing 4-12 2015 season. To be better in 2016, the Chargers first must win in the AFC West, where they finished 0-6 versus the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders. Fiery quarterback Philip Rivers has to have a bad taste in his mouth after the worst Chargers finish in his career. Cornerback Jason Verrett was San Diego’s lone Pro Bowl selection, but this team has talent. Rivers can still be one of the NFL’s most efficient passers and wide receiver Keenan Allen is a premier target. Veteran tight end Antonio Gates remains productive, and if the team can get production out of running backs Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead, this offense could be one of the most potent in the league. Still, there are too many question marks on defense for anyone to expect the Chargers to compete for anything more than the Wild Card. A big headline out of Chargers camp has been the standoff between the organization and former Ohio State star defensive end Joey Bosa, who the Chargers selected third overall in this years NFL Draft. Bosa is the only rookie to remain unsigned, and with the season rapidly approaching, everyone is wondering when a contract deal will be reached. The Chargers have a chance, but they will need a lot of things to go right to compete with the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders in what should be a competitive AFC West division.

The Arizona Cardinals come into the 2016 NFL season with high expectations after finishing 13-3 and reaching the NFC Championship game in 2015. Quarterback Carson Palmer earned his first career playoff victory after a dramatic 26-20 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers. Palmer and star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald return to lead one of the NFL’s top offensive attacks, along with rising stars David Johnson at running back and wide receiver John Brown. Cardinals fans shop online for Arizona Cardinals merchandise for anything from authentic jerseys, to collectibles, and autographed Cardinals helmets, photos, footballs, and more. There are plenty of reasons for Cardinals fans to be optimistic coming into the 2016 season, and their defense is a major part of their excitement. Safety Tyrann Mathieu recently signed to a contract extension and paired with cornerback Patrick Peterson, they form one of the stronger secondaries in the NFC. Defensive end Calais Campbell and linebacker Chandler Jones provide the pass rush for a defense that puts a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks have battled the past few seasons for NFC West superiority, and it will be a tight competition this season as both teams remain Super Bowl contenders. In their first year back in Los Angeles, the Rams will be a team to watch, but neither the Rams or San Francisco 49ers will have a legitimate shot at knocking off the Cardinals or Seahawks. The Cardinals should produce a similar result in the 2016 sesaon as they finished in 2015, securing a playoff berth and winning a game or two, but a Super Bowl appearance will still be tough in a difficult NFC.