KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
2003: 13-3, first place; lost to Indianapolis in divisional round playoff.
Coach: Dick Vermeil (4th year).
Key additions: OG John Welbourn; DT Lional Dalton.
Key losses: OT John Tait; QB Jonathan Quinn.
First-round pick: None.
Key issue: Can the defense start to make an impact? Former head coach Gunther Cunningham returns as defensive coordinator, which should help as much as any talent upgrade. Cunningham is aggressive and will demand the same attitude from his players, though they lack talent in the front seven.
Playoff outlook: Very good. The Chiefs don’t think they suffered with the loss of Tait, who went to the Bears. Ex-Eagles guard Welbourn replaces Tait. The linebacking from that No. 29 defense, however, is still suspect, and the wide receivers are below average.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
DENVER BRONCOS
2003: 10-6, second place; lost to Indianapolis in wild-card playoff.
Coach: Mike Shanahan (10th year).
Key additions: CB Champ Bailey; S John Lynch.
Key losses: RB Clinton Portis; WR Ed McCaffrey (retired); TE Shannon Sharpe (retired); CB Deltha O’Neal.
First-round pick: LB D.J. Williams.
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Key issue: Who will replace Clinton Portis? Denver has relied on its rushers, and this season Quentin Griffin, Garrison Hearst and second-round pick Tatum Bell should combine to fill the Portis void.
Playoff outlook: Good to very good. Denver believes QB Jake Plummer will blossom. Offensive guru Shanahan is keying on D this year.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
OAKLAND RAIDERS
2003: 4-12, third place.
Coach: Norv Turner (1st year).
Key additions: DT Warren Sapp; DT Ted Washington; CB Ray Buchanan; LB Dwayne Rudd.
Key losses: RB Charlie Garner; WR Tim Brown; OL Matt Stinchcomb.
First-round pick: OT Robert Gallery.
Key issue: Can Rich Gannon be a productive quarterback again, or is newly signed Kerry Collins’ strong arm better suited for Norv Turner’s vertical attack?
Playoff outlook: Fair. Turner’s task: How to manage a team stocked with fading stars from other teams. Sapp and Washington look formidable, but relying on RB Tyrone Wheatley to carry the load is a big gamble.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
2003: 4-12, fourth place.
Coach: Marty Schottenheimer (3rd year).
Key additions: LB Randall Godfrey; OT Roman Oben.
Key losses: DE Marcellus Wiley; C Cory Raymer; WR David Boston; DE Raylee Johnson.
First-round pick: QB Philip Rivers.
Key issue: Will they pick first in next year’s draft? There is a reason QB Eli Manning did not want to be San Diego’s No. 1 pick. The team has more holes than Swiss cheese.
Playoff outlook: Poor. Alarmingly weak and thin offensive and defensive lines leave the Chargers with little chance to compete. RB LaDainian Tomlinson might be the league’s best player. If only this were fantasy football.
–KRT, TRIBUNE