NFL | AFC WEST PREVIEW NEWEST BULLY IN AFC ARNIE STAPLETON plosiveness,” Broncos GM John Elway said. Associated Press‌ No Rivers No problem The Broncos even bypassed a big Someone other than is the The Chiefs begin defense of their crown atrick Ma- need at tackle to select another Chargers’ starting for the first and kick off a season like none other Sept. homes and the speedy receiver, KJ Hamler, in time since 2006. Tyrod Taylor gets first 10 against the . PKansas City the second round. That strategy crack, but he looks like a placeholder for Kansas City was due to return 20 of its Chiefs have sup- took on greater scrutiny when , whom the Chargers se- 22 starters before guard Laurent Duver- planted the Patriots right tackle Ja’Wuan James lected with the sixth overall pick as their nay-Tardif and Damien Wil- as the biggest bully opted out of the 2020 QB of the future. liams opted out. “If you’re going to have a on the NFL block season over coronavirus Rivers, now with the Colts, led the AFC year where bringing a lot of guys back that after Tom Brady concerns and Hamler with 4,615 yards passing and had 23 touch- are experienced — not having rookie mini- left New England spent much of training down throws. But he also threw 20 inter- camps, OTAs — this would be the year to for Tampa Bay. camp sidelined by a ceptions, led an offense have it,” Chiefs GM Brett Veach said. While Kansas hamstring injury. Tyrod that committed six City’s four consec- The Chiefs didn’t No Black Hole Taylor red-zone turnovers utive AFC West crowns stand still. and twice gave The Raiders have left behind Oak- aren’t anywhere close to In addition to grab- away the ball on land and the famed Black Hole for the New England’s string of 11 Catching up to bing standout LSU running downs. glamour and glitz of Las Vegas. But straight AFC East titles, not back Clyde Edwards-Helaire did they leave behind their middling even the Patriots have dom- speedy Chiefs in the first round, they spent offensive performances? inated their division like the the draft getting their defense The Raiders have their most com- Chiefs have ruled theirs over a tall task up to speed to complement all plete offense since coach Jon Gruden the last five seasons. the burners they have on offense. returned in 2018 with Ruggs, break- The Patriots are 24-6 despite Second-round out tight end Darren Waller, ver- an ordinary 6-4 mark against Mi- pick Willie Gay Jr. satile back and ami, and the Chiefs are 27-3 with 9-1 marks ran the second-fast- slot receiver Hunter against every one of their division rivals est 40-yard dash Renfrow. during that span. among linebackers “The opportuni- The Chiefs would be perfect over that at the combine, and ties are limitless,” QB stretch if not for these last-minute heroics: fourth-round pick Derek Carr said. „„The Broncos scored two L’Jarius Sneed not in the final 36 seconds to snare a 31-24 win only had the fastest in 2015, the last time they beat the Chiefs. time among safeties at „„The Raiders scored a with 4.37 seconds, but was the no time left for a 31-30 win in 2017. fourth fastest of any player „„The Chargers scored a TD with 4 sec- who ran during the week in India- onds left for a 29-28 win in 2018. napolis. The Chiefs used their blazing speed on “They keep getting faster and keep rais- offense to end five frustrating decades ing the bar,” Mayock said. Chiefs without a title. So their AFC Other subplots to watch as the Chiefs quarterback West rivals all added speed to their rosters defend their second Super Bowl title: Patrick this offseason in hopes of reining in the Mahomes led champs. No fans Kansas City to “Every move and signing we make we Although the Chiefs hope to have about its first Super have to have them in mind,” Chargers coach 16,000 fans at each of their home games, Bowl title in 50 said about the Chiefs, who their division rivals won’t have any spec- years. raced past San Francisco with a 21-0 blitz tators until further notice. The Broncos ASSOCIATED in the final six minutes of the Super Bowl. got a taste of what that will be like when PRESS ‌ PHOTOS “Let’s be honest, the entire league is they held a stadium scrimmage at empty Projected chasing the ,” Raiders Empower Field. order of GM said. “But we’re in the “It was sad,” said guard , same division. They keep getting faster and a Colorado native. “I love Denver. I love finish more athletic, more dynamic every time the fans. ... I was fake pointing up into the you turn around. Other teams have to do stands all day acting like I saw a few 66 the same.” jerseys.” In the first round of the draft, the Raid- The Broncos pumped in crowd noise and ers chose receiver III, the they’re selling cardboard cutouts of fans fastest player at the combine; the Broncos for $100, which will go to charity. selected receiver Jerry Jeudy; and the Char- “We’d rather have real fans there obvi- gers added fleet-footed linebacker Kenneth ously,” QB said, “but it’s some- Murray. thing we have to adjust to.” “We just feel like we had to add that ex-