What you need to know about the AFC West

In the West lies the AFCs powerhouse division, one that sent three teams into the playoffs after last season.

The Denver Broncos and Peyton Manning gobbled up all the headlines, records and awards except for the one that mattered, the Lombardi Trophy. The Kansas City Chiefs started strong and faded badly, the San Diego Chargers rode a 4-1 finish into the postseason and the Oakland Raiders well, theyre the Raiders. This year, can Peyton Manning work magic again? What will Andy Reid and Alex Smith do in their second season? Are the Chargers going to build on the 2013 finish? Are the Raiders going to improve?

Denver Broncos

Top story line The Broncos found out that a great defense is really important to a team with aspirations of winning (not just appearing in) Super Bowls. To that end, John Fox and John Elway went a little wild on defensive players in free agency.

Key acquisition So many choices but it probably will be Aqib Talib, especially if the road back to the Super Bowl involves playing New England again.

Biggest loss Who in his right mind leaves Mannings team? Well, a number of players did and one of them was wide receiver Eric Decker, who headed for the Jets.

Kansas City Chiefs Top story line It all ended so horribly as the Chiefs converted a 9-0 start into a 2-5 stretch run in Andy Reids first season as coach. They lost a wild-card game to Indy and now get ready for another season in a division that sent three teams to the playoffs. Blerg.

Key acquisition Outside linebacker Dee Ford, the 23rd pick in the draft, should help bolster the defense.

Biggest loss Its a tie: Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz are all gone after a season in which they combined for 2,022 snaps.

Oakland Raiders Top story line While the Raiders work out whether theyll share the 49ers stadium, the only AFC West team to miss the postseason was busy in the offseason.

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What you need to know about the AFC West