The Chargers had a bit of a resurgence in 2018.
The team won more than nine games (12-4) for the first time since 2009 and made their first postseason appearance since 2013.
For all that success, though, the Chargers were rewarded with only a second-place finish in the AFC West as the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes stormed through the league. Count Melvin Gordon as one Chargers player who expects that to change this year.
“We're the team to beat,” Gordon said when asked if the Chiefs were again the team to beat in the division. “We're just special, and I definitely feel we have the best team in the NFL. You just have to walk around with that confidence.”
The Chargers haven't won the division since 2009, LaDainian Tomlinson's final season in San Diego.
Kansas City has had a grip the AFC West crown for the past three seasons and should be dangerous again with Mahomes entering his second year as a starter. The Chiefs also added two impact players — defensive end Frank Clark and safety Tyrann Mathieu — to a defense which ranked 31st in yards allowed.
Denver and Oakland are in different stages of a rebuild, but the Broncos could be a darkhorse challenger for the title. The Broncos (6-10) traded for quarterback Joe Flacco, who figures to be an upgrade over who they have had under center the past three seasons, and still boast a talented defense led by Von Miller.
There won't be many easy wins in this division.
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