It's the MOST wonderful time of the year......

Greetings!

It's that time again and football is right around the corner!  The long wait is nearly over - God I hate baseball (except in October).  Why can't they just move right to the playoffs in baseball for Pete's sake!

I would like to make my predictions on the AFC West at this time.  We can all look back at this prediction in January to see how close I got.

Chargers

Norv Turner will find it hard to repeat the 12-4 record of a year ago.  Even though the AFC West is pitted against the very weak NFC North in interconference play this year, I still think that a record of 10-6 is about as good as they will do this year.  Sure, Phillip Rivers is maturing and the offense is solid, but I think that Jammer and company will let too many big plays down the field and they will lose a few games over this.

Kansas City

With a respectable 9-7 finish last year, I see the Chiefs losing a step this year.  Priest Holmes is gone, and they are being led by Damon Huard of all people with another unknown backing him up.  One injury and this is a team that is heading downhill, regardless of Herm's efforts.  This is an 8-8 team at best.

Denver

these guys could be the real deal this year if Cutler lives up to his promise.  I think that they have shown the ability to get it done over the last few years and may just come out on top.  Mike Bell will be a guy to watch.  I predict that they go 11-5.

Raiders

This is a big question mark, but with the easy NFC North the Raiders should get more than the two wins of a year ago.   Perhaps bringing in another new young coach will make the difference like it did when Chucky came in and took the Raiders all the way to the Super Bowl (one season after he left).  Jamarcus will not play a snap until at least November at this rate but Culpepper looks good from his play in the preseason.  the Raiders defense will continue to dominate and if they can get any offense at all, they will win some games that they lost last year.  I predict at least 2 wins in conference and a record that will be about 7-9.  Take THAT!

Beers

We are having a Labor Day block party today and it is around 100 out and the humidity is uncharacteristically high.  On a day like this there is only one answer - ice cold Bud Light and lots of it.  There is no other beer that I know of that will keep you cool in these situations as well.  Coors light and Miller Lite are just bad and this can be proven by checking the ice chest that was equally stocked with each at the end of the day.  Invariably the Bud Light is all gone and you are left with the swill.

Cheers!