Ryan Dunleavy previews the AFC West as The Post gives division-by-division breakdowns ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

1. Kansas City Chiefs 

Coach: Andy Reid 

2022 record: 14-3 

O/U wins: 11.5 

Key additions: RT Jawaan Taylor, EDGE Charles Omenihu, LB Drue Tranquill, S Mike Edwards, LT Donovan Smith, EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah 

Key departures: LT Orlando Brown Jr., DE Frank Clark, RT Andrew Wylie, WR Mecole Hardman, WR Juju Smith-Schuster, S Juan Thornhill, DT Khalen Saunders, QB Chad Henne 

First-and-goal: As long as Reid is calling plays for QB Patrick Mahomes to throw to TE Travis Kelce, the Chiefs should be Super Bowl contenders. For the second time in three seasons, the Chiefs simultaneously changed both of their offensive tackles, and the success of the plan this year will be tied to how much the 2022 Pro Bowler Smith has left in the tank. The Chiefs have one of the NFL’s best interior-blocking trios. There’s reason to expect improvement from the six defensive players who played significant snaps as rookies, especially in the secondary. 

Fourth-and-long: For the second straight offseason, the cumulative sum of the departures outweighs the additions. How long can Mahomes make up for deficiencies around the roster? We should finally find out the value of non-playing offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy — now in Washington — to the Chiefs’ fireworks. A lot is riding on unproven WRs such as Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, who made big plays in the Super Bowl because they were schemed open. DT Chris Jones is threatening to hold out until Week 9 after five of his peers topped his $20 million per year average on new contracts this offseason. 

Dunleavy’s decision: 12-5. The Chiefs probably will stumble out of the gates — as Tom Brady’s Patriots used to — while Mahomes looks to establish a rapport with his non-Kelce weapons, but expect the operation to be humming when it matters most. 

2. Los Angeles Chargers 

Coach: Brandon Staley 

2022 record: 10-7 

O/U wins: 9.5 

Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks, WR Quentin Johnston 

Key departures: LB Drue Tranquill, S Nasir Adderley, G Matt Feiler 

First-and-goal: With one of the NFL’s most talented rosters, the Chargers should be knocking on the Super Bowl door after returning 11 offensive and nine defensive starters. To do so, they have to end a forever curse of losing games that they shouldn’t have lost, due to unforced errors. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s arrival will be important for QB Justin Herbert — but no more so than a healthy WR duo of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Do-it-all RB Austin Ekeler is a touchdown machine. The Chargers were one of the most injured teams in the league last season, especially on both lines. 

Fourth-and-long: Whether you see him as an innovator or a careless risk-taker for his fourth-down decision-making, let’s agree Staley is on the hot seat. This is a now-or-never season for the veteran nucleus around Herbert given that the Chargers are projected to be about $64 million over the salary cap in 2024. A lot of resources are invested in a secondary — headlined by Derwin James, J.C. Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr. — that hasn’t yet lived up to expectations. Too many home games are invaded by road fans (the Cowboys visit this year) and become a home-field disadvantage. 

Dunleavy’s decision: 10-7. The top-heavy Chargers either need their stars to stay healthy or their backups to play better than they did last season. But they always play the Chiefs tough, even in Kansas City. 

3. Denver Broncos 

Coach: Sean Payton 

2022 record: 5-12 

O/U wins: 8.5 

Key additions: RT Mike McGlinchey, DE Zach Allen, G Ben Powers, EDGE Frank Clark, QB Jarrett Stidham, LB Drew Sanders, TE Chris Manhertz 

Key departures: EDGE Dre’Mont Jones, OT Calvin Anderson, TE Andrew Beck, G Graham Glasgow, CB Ronald Darby, K Brandon McManus 

First-and-goal: QB Russell Wilson can’t possibly be as bad as he was last season, when his Hall of Fame trajectory fell off a cliff. Payton, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and first-time quarterbacks coach Davis Webb form the brain trust tasked with a reclamation project. The Broncos were big spenders in free agency, which has been an immediate ticket back to the playoffs for others in recent offseasons. CB Patrick Surtain II — a rising star — will be helped by the improved pass rush. The offensive line was remodeled after Wilson took a career-high 55 sacks. 

Fourth-and-long: What if Wilson’s overnight deterioration just happened at an earlier age (34) than it did for others, so he won’t get any better? A fast start is a must because the Broncos face a murderers’ row of quarterbacks in Weeks 5-10 and then play road games in Weeks 13-15. Vance Joseph is back with the franchise that fired him as head coach (2017-2018) as Payton’s defensive coordinator. Edge rusher Randy Gregory was a free-agent bust last season. Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick (season over) are hurt — as always seems to be the case for this team’s WRs. 

Dunleavy’s decision: 7-10. The Broncos didn’t trade all those draft picks for Wilson — and then more to acquire Payton — just to finish third in the AFC West. Will new owner Rob Walton be patient? 

4. Las Vegas Raiders 

Coach: Josh McDaniels 

2022 record: 6-11 

O/U wins: 6.5 

Key additions: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Jakobi Meyers, S Marcus Epps, LB Robert Spillane, CB Brandon Facyson, QB Brian Hoyer, EDGE Tyree Wilson 

Key departures: QB Derek Carr, TE Darren Waller, QB Jarrett Stidham, CB Rock Ya-Sin, TE Foster Moreau 

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First-and-goal: If McDaniels couldn’t convince Tom Brady to sign with the Raiders instead of retiring and buying a minority ownership stake in the franchise, then signing another quarterback that he molded over four years in New England makes sense. WR Davante Adams will offer Garoppolo a chance to prove he is more than a game manager. The Raiders were 1-5 in games they led by at least a touchdown at the half, so here is a much-needed do-over on those coin-flip losses. Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby are one of the league’s best pass-rushing duos. 

Fourth-and-long: Coach-quarterback symmetry is important … but is it important enough to downgrade the Raiders? It’s hard to argue Garoppolo is a better player than the four-time Pro Bowler Carr, even if he knew McDaniels’ system and came cheaper. He’s certainly not more durable — most recently because of left foot surgery. Wilson, the No. 7 pick in the draft, also is coming off foot surgery. The NFL’s defending rushing champion, Josh Jacobs, missed all of camp with a now-settled contract dispute. The defense ranked No. 26 in points allowed because the secondary lacks enough playmakers. 

Dunleavy’s decision: 6-11. McDaniels hasn’t proven, over three seasons (two in Denver), that he is a capable CEO, and the Raiders don’t have enough firepower to win AFC West shootouts if their defense falters.