5 NFL teams who could shock us and play for a conference championship

If the quarterback hits, good luck trying to slow this team down.

While there is reason to be high on rival teams like the Las Vegas Raiders or the Los Angeles Chargers, many people feel the most formidable challenger to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West has to be the Denver Broncos. Defensively, this team has what it takes, but the question is if they’ll be competent enough offensively to win big?

After a rough start to his Denver tenure, Vic Fangio’s Broncos figured it out in the second half to finish with a 7-9 overall record. Surely, having a former head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer in Mike Munchak coaching the offensive line is a huge help, as is getting another former head coach in Pat Shurmur as his new offensive coordinator in 2020. This will only help Drew Lock.

Yes, that’s what it’s all about for the Broncos this year. If the former second-round pick out of Missouri plays like we think he’s capable of, Denver can be as good as an 11-5 team this fall. That may not be enough to win the AFC West, but it could be a mark serviceable enough to consider the Broncos as the third best team in the AFC after Kansas City and the Baltimore Ravens.

Let’s not overlook the Broncos getting back stud pass-rusher Bradley Chubb after an injury-riddled second season out of North Carolina State. Having him play opposite of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Von Miller may give the Broncos the most vaunted pass rush in the AFC this season. There is a high level of variance with the 2020 Broncos, but they’ll likely be playoff-caliber.