Schlereth: Broncos, Chiefs vie for No. 2 spot in AFC West behind LA

Going strictly by where each team in the AFC West finished in 2018, the 6-10 Denver Broncos ranked third behind the 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers and ahead of the 4-12 Oakland Raiders.

However, depending on some mitigating circumstances, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth says this offseason has seen a shift in the AFC West power rankings.

“I’m sitting there saying right now the Broncos have pulled even with the Chiefs and they’re very close — depending upon, again, Tyreek Hill,” Schlereth said Monday. “If he ends up being suspended, I think the Broncos become the No. 2 team in the AFC West, behind the Chargers.”

Aside from the possibility of losing Hill — who has been linked to two investigations involving incidents at his home, including a report of a battery — for the season or longer, the Chiefs have lost a handful of key pieces to an already struggling defense, including edge rushers Dee Ford and Justin Houston, Schlereth said.

“The Chiefs were one of the worst defenses in football last year. And they just lost a couple of their really good players,” Schlereth said Tuesday. “So, that certainly is not going to help them.”

So, based on what happens with Hill, Schlereth reiterated Tuesday that he believes the Broncos have “pulled even” with the Chiefs in the division.

“If he gets suspended, which if he is found guilty of something, based on his past record I think it’ll be a yearlong suspension,” Schlereth said. “If that is the case, then I think they’ve pulled even.”

As for the remainder of the AFC West, Schlereth said he believes the Chargers have put together a roster that he believes will make them the top team in the division while the Raiders, despite a strong offseason, were “so far behind the curve” that they haven’t moved up much and remain fourth.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.