The NFL kickoff is officially one week away, and the AFC West is staring down a wide-open season with two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes finally back from a season-ending injury. Everyone’s wondering if the Denver Broncos, who came within a game of the Super Bowl last year, actually shifted the power in the division or if that was just fool’s gold. On FOX Sports’ show First Things First, hosts Nick Wright and Chris Broussard threw down their predictions, and boy, did they not hold back. They disagreed hard, and their arguments for both sides were seriously compelling.
Nick Wright Throws Shade at Justin Herbert and Gives Us a Peek at Our Seahawks
Nick Wright, as expected, sees his Chiefs reclaiming the AFC West crown. No shocker there for a self-proclaimed fan. But his take on the Chargers is what grabbed my attention. He’s got them finishing third, largely because of a brutal stretch of games from Week 3 all the way through Week 10. And guess who’s in that gauntlet? Our very own Seahawks! Wright laid it out, “Weeks three through 10…how’s this work for you? Bills, Seahawks, Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans, Ravens.” He even doubled down on his long-standing doubt about Justin Herbert, saying, “Around week nine is when we’re gonna start hearing, guys year eight is the year Justin Herbert pops.” It’s a tough path for LA, and Wright clearly thinks it’ll break them.
Now, Wright isn’t just picking favorites; he actually brings some logic to the table. He sees the Broncos falling back a bit due to simple regression. Last season, Denver and Chicago were incredibly clutch in the fourth quarter. But Wright thinks those one-score game bounces are leveling off for the Broncos this year. He pointed out they played 17 games, like everyone else, but trailed in 15 of them, and still had a historically good record in close games. Plus, John Franklin Meyers is gone, and Jonathan Cooper’s on the exempt list. Still, Wright sees Sean Payton leading them to an 11-6 record and a playoff spot, finishing second in the AFC West.
Kansas City’s Defense Gets a Shot in the Arm, But Broussard Sees the Chargers Rising
Wright’s confidence in the Chiefs isn’t just about Mahomes. He thinks their defense looks noticeably stronger. He was ready to pick Chris Jones for Defensive Player of the Year, saying Jones “all of a sudden he has someone next to him.” He’s talking about Peter Woods, who was projected to be a top-five draft pick not too long ago, and then there’s R. Mason Thomas as another edge rusher, plus Mansoor Delane, a top-six cornerback pick. Wright is hyped about this young defense having “three months for this young defense, young secondary to learn [Steve] Spagnuolo’s scheme.”
But hold up, because Chris Broussard sees the AFC West completely differently, throwing a massive curveball into the whole thing. He’s buying into Los Angeles big time, picking the Chargers to dethrone the Chiefs! He even drops Kansas City all the way to third place in his division standings. That’s a bold take, saying the Chargers, with their brutal schedule, are the ones to knock off the champs. With the season kicking off in just seven days, these predictions are about to get tested. Will Wright be right about Herbert’s struggles, or will Broussard’s Chargers surprise everyone and take the division? We’re about to find out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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