MOST IMPROVED TEAMS, DIVISION BY DIVISION, PART 3 OF 8: AFC WEST

Author: Peter DiPaola

Here are the results of the online polls on who the most improved team in the AFC West is:

Twitter Poll:
Chargers 55%
Raiders 35%
Chiefs 10%
Broncos 0%

Facebook Poll:
Raiders 67%
Chargers 25%
Broncos 8%
Chiefs 0%

Writer's Pick: Los Angeles Chargers

Following a 5-11 season which included 8 losses decided by 7 points or less, since then the Chargers have made some moves to improve their roster and hopefully improve their record in 2017 in their new home city, Los Angeles.

What has really stuck out in the Chargers offseason was their draft.  In the first round they obtained another target for Philip Rivers when the picked wide receiver Mike Williams out of Clemson, they then drafted a guard in rounds 2 and 3 to help improve the offensive line.  San Diego allowed 36 sacks last season, which was middle of the pack for sacks allowed, but their run game struggled in 2016 as they ranked 26th in rush yards per game.  Bolstering the offensive line the draft can possibly help a run game improve, which in turn means the Chargers can run the ball better and take more time off the clock which can help them win those close games they struggled with in 2016.

After helping quarterback Phillip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon in the first three rounds by acquiring pieces to help build the offense up they drafted a safety in rounds 4 and 5 to add talent their secondary that allowed the 20th most passing yards per game in 2016.  That was the issue with their secondary last season, but on the bright side they allowed just 21 touchdown passes and were tied for 1st place for most interceptions with 18.

Los Angeles drafted well by adding talent to their receiving corp, beefing up their offensive line and obtaining more depth and talent in their secondary, which had solid statistics from the 2016, the Chargers have improved.  This was a tough division to make a pick for a team that has improved the most, but L.A. has shown it wants to improve in 2017 by adding the pieces to the puzzle that they needed.

2017 Record Prediction: 9-7 3rd in AFC West

ALL STATS ARE FROM WWW.NFL.COM