KC Chiefs: Biggest red flag for each AFC West team in 2020
By Chris Clark
The KC Chiefs have dominated the AFC West over the last four seasons. That doesn’t mean a fifth straight division title is a given, though. Even the Super Bowl winner isn’t immune to having their own red flag headed into 2020.
In the last four seasons, Kansas City’s foes in the AFC West haven’t posed much of a threat. Four straight division titles and a 22-2 record over that span can only mean one thing – the Kansas City Chiefs are dominating their division.
With a Hall of Fame head coach and one of the most talented teams in the league, this run likely won’t end soon. This doesn’t mean, though, that the Chiefs are invincible in the West.
The beauty of the NFL is that each year every team begins with a clean slate. Coaching hires, trades, free agency, and the draft over each offseason create the opportunity for each team to be the top dog.
There’s also the reality that each team enters the new season with some sort of red flag. So, let’s take a look at each AFC West team’s biggest red flag headed into 2020.
Every AFC West Team’s Biggest Red Flag – Denver Broncos: John Elway
For much of the last decade, it seemed like Denver’s dominance of the AFC West would never end. Now, they’re a far cry from a team that won a Super Bowl only five years ago.
The exit of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time and the constant influx of some really bad quarterbacks in recent years has created quite the wasteland in Denver. At the same time, a once elite defense is also just a shell of its former shelf.
With three different head coaches in the last four seasons, the Broncos have struggled to find any solid footing for success. While their general manager, John Elway, continues to add pieces, it seems his attempts are futile. And that is likely the biggest red flag for the Broncos.
The all-time great Denver quarterback turned general manager will need to find success soon… or else.
If Elway can’t put together a successful season soon, his legendary status in Denver could get tarnished. In his nine seasons as the GM, he’s been through four head coaches, which isn’t a good track record.
His ability to continually put bad quarterbacks under center has essentially wasted some great years with an elite defense, led by future Hall of Fame linebacker Von Miller. Outside of Elway himself, there doesn’t seem to be any other major red flags in Denver.
Longtime NFL coach turned head coach Vic Fangio enters his second year as captain of the ship with a decent young quarterback who’s surrounded by some talented young weapons. The defense also added a few notable players earlier this offseason, so that unit appears to be upgraded as well.
This could buy Elway another year to find greater success. If that doesn’t happen, it’s likely that Denver’s biggest red flag – John Elway – could be waving the white flag very soon.