THE AFC WEST, WHICH HAD BEEN one of the most powerful and consistent divisions in football, is hurting. All four clubs have serious question marks heading into the 2004 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who won the division title last year, need defense. The Denver Broncos need a proven running back. The Oakland Raiders need unity. And the San Diego Chargers need a complete overhaul.

Here's how the division race stacks up:

1. Denver Broncos

Where they left off: After the Broncos beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Week 16 to lock up a wild-card berth in the postseason, they got hammered by the Green Bay Packers in their supposedly meaningless regular-season finale. That was a prelude to their first-round playoff game at Indianapolis, where the Colts rolled to a 41-10 triumph that left coach Mike Shanahan searching for answers.

New faces: As usual, the Broncos attempted to improve their team by going after defensive help in the offseason. They made a huge splash by trading superstar running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins for shutdown cornerback Champ Bailey. The Broncos have had problems in coverage for years, and Bailey may be the best cover man in the league. Shanahan also added former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch, who will bring toughness and concussive hitting ability to the defense. Rookie outside linebacker D.J. Williams is a great athlete who should be able to start this season. As for the offense, former San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst will compete with Quentin Griffin and rookie Tatum Bell for playing time.

X's and O's: The Broncos are gambling that they have the talent on hand to replace Portis. Shanahan always has been able to develop running backs, but Portis was a truly special player who will be tough to replace. Quarterback Jake Plummer appeared to grow into the job in his first year in Denver in 2003, and wide receiver Ashley Lelie showed flashes of excellence in his first two seasons, although he needs to be more consistent. On the negative, wideout Rod Smith has lost a step and Denver will really miss the leadership of tight end Shannon Sharpe, who retired. The fate of this team hinges on the defense. If all of its new pieces come together quickly, the Broncos could be formidable.

Coaching/management: There are several cracks in Shanahan's veneer. While he is still an offensive innovator who puts together good game plans, he can be a difficult boss. The atmosphere in Denver is somewhat oppressive because he is wound so tightly.

Why they'll finish first: The Broncos are the best team in a flawed division. Plummer should improve even more in his second year with the team, and Bailey will give the Broncos a presence in the secondary that they have not had in the Shanahan era. However, regular-season dominance probably won't trans, late into postseason dominance.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Where they left off: Even though the Chiefs started the season by winning their first nine games--they finished at 13-3--few observers believed they had enough of a defensive presence to do anything in the postseason. Those critics were right. The offense, led by running back Priest Holmes, was spectacular, but the defense was abominable and proved to be the team's undoing.

New faces: The Chiefs brought in one of their former head coaches, Gunther Cunningham, to fire up the defense. General manager Carl Peterson and head coach Dick Vermeil believe Cunningham can get the unit to play with more emotion. Kansas City signed former Redskins tackle Lional Dalton and drafted tackle Junior Siavii to give the defensive line more muscle at the point of attack.

X's and O's: Al Saunders has an incredible offense at his disposal, starting with Holmes. Not only does the running back have speed, quickness, and power, but he also knows how to wait for his blocks to develop before exploding into the secondary. Quarterback Trent Green is smart, consistent, and accurate, and Tony Gonzalez remains the best tight end in football. Despite their defensive collapse last year, the Chiefs believe players like end Vonnie Holliday and linebacker Shawn Barber can turn this unit around. Both players, however, are flawed. Holliday isn't a dominant pass-rusher; Barber, while quick and aggressive, is inconsistent.

Coaching/management: Don't underestimate Vermeil because he is old and tends to get weepy. He is still an outstanding motivator and a solid game-planner, and his players truly love him. Saunders, meanwhile, deserves a head-coaching opportunity; he can outmaneuver nearly any defensive coordinator he faces. Cunningham will fire up his troops, but will that emotion compensate for the unit's lack of overall talent?

Why they'll finish second: The Chiefs didn't sufficiently address their defensive shortcomings. As a result, the team as a whole will come up short again.

3. Oakland Raiders

Where they left off: The 2003 season was a nightmare. After getting to the Super Bowl in 2002, the Raiders fell apart and went 4-12. Head coach Bill Callahan was terminated, and Al Davis hired former Redskins head coach Norv Turner to turn around this aging team.

New faces: Turners personality is the opposite of Callahan's. Callahan was cold and unapproachable, while Turner is a much more open communicator. Drafting offensive tackle Robert Gallery with the second selection overall should help the Raiders immensely. Another rookie offensive lineman, center/guard Jake Grove, also has a chance to make a big contribution. Former Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp will give the Raiders defensive line quickness and an urgency it lacked last year, as Will big and nasty tackle Ted Washington. Cornerback Ray "Big Play" Buchanan, who was released by the Atlanta Falcons, has just the type of swagger the Raiders love.

X's and O's The Raiders will once again try to go with ancient players on offense. Quarterback Rich Gannon apparently has recovered from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss a chunk of last season. He will throw to venerable wideouts Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Jerry Porter, a much younger and more nimble wideout, was injured much of last season and should provide a big boost if he's fully healthy. Look for second-year running back Justin Fargas to play a significant role this season. Sapp and Washington should do wonders for the defensive line, and cornerback Charles Woodson will once again be the anchor of the secondary. Linebacker Napoleon Harris is another key; he runs well and is very aggressive. Second-year defensive end Tyler Brayton could be ready to become an all-around contributor after starting 16 games as a rookie.

Coaching/management: Turner should be a much more positive presence in the locker room than Callahan was. However, Turner wasn't particularly successful when he was head coach of the Redskins, so there's little reason to think he will work miracles in Oakland.

Why they'll finish third: The offense is relying on a lot of players who are past their primes, but Gallery and Grove will provide a helpful injection of youth. Still, unless Gannon, Brown, and Rice recapture at least some of their former glory, the Raiders won't be able to keep pace with Denver and Kansas City.

4. San Diego Chargers

Where they left off: It was a horrible season for the Chargers, who went 4-12 and played even worse than that record indicates. They were particularly bad on the road, where four of their six losses were by 13 or more points.

New faces: The Chargers had apparently boxed themselves in a corner when they drafted quarterback Eli Manning with the No. 1 pick, even though he had made it clear he wanted no part of the organization. However, GM A.J. Smith ended up looking like a semi-genius when he traded Manning for quarterback Philip Rivers and a bunch of extra draft picks. Rookies Igor Olshansky (defensive tackle) and Shaun Phillips (defensive end) have a chance to compete right away. Two free agents--wide receiver Kevin Dyson and cornerback Jamar Fletcher--are much-needed additions.

X's and O's: Whether Drew Brees or Rivers is the starting quarterback, the No. 1 option for this team will be running back LaDainian Tomlinson. All Tomlinson did last year was become the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes. The blocking of fullback Lorenzo Neal played a huge role in Tomlinson's success; more pressure than ever will be on that pair this year because of the departures of offensive tackle Damion McIntosh and guard Kelvin Garmon. The defense lacked leadership last year, but young cornerback Quentin Jammer should be ready to step into that role in 2004; he led the '03 Chargers with four interceptions. Outside linebacker Donnie Edwards can run sideline to sideline to make big plays, but he could lose interest if the Chargers have another poor season.