For most teams in the NFL, winning the division is the first goal for any particular season. Winning your division not only puts you in the playoffs, but it gives you at least one home game in the postseason.
For the Denver Broncos, winning the AFC West has eluded the team since 2015, the last time it made the playoffs. Since then, the Kansas City Chiefs have found their franchise quarterback and already won three Super Bowls with him.
The Broncos believe they have the right head coach to get them back into the AFC West winner's circle and the hope is that the quarterback drafted at No. 12 overall this year, Bo Nix, is the guy that will take the reigns and lead the franchise to the promised land.
But getting through the division has proven difficult and all three teams have new things to deal with as well. Here is one thing each of those teams didn't have last season that presents a new challenge to the Broncos.
1 new concern Denver Broncos will face with each AFC West rival
Kansas City Chiefs: Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy
The Chiefs already have enough to deal with as Andy Reid is the head coach and Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are still on the roster.
But the Chiefs made what could be one of the better under-the-radar moves of the offseason in signing Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. Then in the draft, the league really let them get the guy who broke the record for the 40-yard dash, Xavier Worthy.
This team is already loaded and adding two speedsters on the outside for Mahomes to chuck it deep too might make them even more dangerous on offense than when they had Tyreek Hill. Yes, seriously.
Las Vegas Raiders: Christian Wilkins
Christian Wilkins was one of the more expensive free-agent signings this offseason, but he may end up being one of the best. Capable of being a dominant force in the middle of the defensive front, Wilkins can command double teams. That could help free up Maxx Crosby even more, and he's already enough of a force.
The Raiders aren't scary offensively, at least on paper, particularly without Josh Jacobs on the roster as well as a question mark at quarterback for now. But defensively, they could beat up on a growing offense such as the Broncos.
Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
This is an obvious inclusion on this list.
The Broncos have fared quite well against the Chargers despite their lack of success in recent years against the Chiefs and Raiders. But this will no longer be the Brandon Staley Chargers or even the Anthony Lynn Chargers.
Harbaugh has been successful as a head coach just about everywhere he has gone. His no-nonsense approach churns out results and there is no reason to believe that it won't for this Chargers team.
The Broncos are going to have to be up for these games. By the way, Harbaugh has taken three out of four games against Payton in the past.
