Wild AFC West title up for grabs
spring to save $6 million in salary cap space. The Broncos signed him to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million.
The Broncos, who bolstered their backfield and offensive line in trying to bridge the gap between their substandard offense and spectacular defense, are counting on Charles being the player who once seemed headed to the Hall of Fame — not the one who’s been slowed by bad knees the last two seasons.
Charles, who insists on calling his cut from the Chiefs a “firing,” is itching to show his former team it shouldn’t have let him go.
“I’m just happy I get to face them twice a year,” said Charles, who also provoked Chiefs fans by declaring he’s long admired John Elway and had always wanted to play for the Broncos anyway.
The Chiefs wanted Spencer Ware to take the bulk of their carries, but he blew out his right knee in the preseason, leaving third-round pick Kareem Hunt atop the depth chart.
K.C. kings: Running woes or not, the Chiefs have won 11 consecutive games within the division dating to Sept. 17, 2015.
That’s when they held a 24-17 lead in the final minute over Denver at home, only to watch Peyton Manning throw a touchdown pass to tie it. Then Charles fumbled the handoff with 27 seconds remaining when Brandon Marshall poked the football away. Cornerback Bradley Roby’s scoopand-score sent the Broncos to a stunning 31-24 win that propelled them to a Super Bowl season.
The Chiefs went on a five-week freefall before winning their final 10 games, half of them against the AFC West.
Long drive: The Chargers have made the move north to Los Angeles, where the franchise played its first game in 1960. Back then, traffic wasn’t the issue in Southern California that it is now.
Rivers didn’t want to uproot his wife and eight children, so he’s making the commute from his home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., to the team’s new headquarters in Costa Mesa, which is about 75 miles and can take an hour and a half or more.
Rivers isn’t doing the driving. He’ll have someone do that for him so he can use the time wisely, like studying his iPad playbook.
Vegas, baby: The Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas, Nev., won’t happen for two more years, so Oakland has a chance to return to its previous glory before fans would have to trek nine hours to attend their games.
The move doesn’t appear a big issue yet as Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is sold out for the season, and the Raiders look primed to give their fans a lot more to cheer about before they leave town.
Predicted order of finish: Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers.