1 | CHARGERS

2017 | 9-7, second in West

Last year in playoffs | 2013

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Philip Rivers: One of the constants in the NFL, Rivers is coming off a strong season. His interceptions were way down, save for two disaster starts against the Chiefs. The Chargers cannot win without their most important player on the field.

CB Casey Hayward: A lot of the attention goes to defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, but they get extra time to reach the quarterback because of Hayward’s coverage. Over the past two seasons, he’s been one of the NFL’s best corners. After a big contract extension this offseason, he’s being paid as one.

WR Keenan Allen: The Chargers wideout had his best season in the NFL last year after shaking off two years of fluky injuries. He’s one of the league’s best route runners, sneaky strong and, most importantly, usually open.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

WR Mike Williams: After a quiet rookie year marred by injuries, Williams has looked like a top-10 talent in training camp. His size and red-zone skills could fill the big hole left by injured tight end Hunter Henry’s absence.

S Derwin James: The Chargers’ top pick in 2018 somehow fell into their lap in the middle of the first round. He’s a big-time talent at safety, a position of need, and looks physically ready to be a do-it-all player on defense.

LG Dan Feeney: A third-round pick last year, he became a starter midway through the season and held his own. The Chargers need to be better up front to keep Rivers upright and to kick-start their running game.

2 | KANSAS CITY

2017 | 10-6, first in West

Last year in playoffs | 2017

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Patrick Mahomes: Some have compared Mahomes to Brett Favre, and here’s his chance to validate those comparisons. He’s surrounded by some of the most dangerous offensive players in the game in Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins.

RB Kareem Hunt: As a rookie last season, he led the NFL with 1,327 yards rushing. The Chiefs are counting on him to take some of the heat off Mahomes.

LB Anthony Hitchens: The Chiefs are solid in the interior with linebackers Hitchens and Reggie Ragland. Hitchens should help the run defense remain sturdy, even with Derrick Johnson’s departure.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

CB Kendall Fuller: Since Marcus Peters has been shipped to the Rams, the spotlight swings to Fuller, a Baltimore native who showed great promise in Washington.

LB Dee Ford: Ford has recovered from a back injury that limited him to six games last season. As a bookend to Justin Houston two years ago, he had 10 sacks.

WR Sammy Watkins: The Rams had so many threats on offense last season that they couldn’t take full advantage of Watkins. If he can stay healthy, he and Hill will put that strong arm of Mahomes to good use.

3 | DENVER

2017 | 5-11, fourth in West

Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

QB Case Keenum: Now with his fifth franchise in six seasons, Keenum finally has a team to call his own. He was the first Broncos quarterback since Peyton Manning to enter the preseason as the unquestioned starter.

CB Bradley Roby: He led the team with 18 passes knocked down and is comfortable playing outside or over the slot receiver. The Broncos need him to continue to progress and show leadership in their changing secondary.

WR Demaryius Thomas: After battling through hip pain last season, Thomas is healthy again and ready to start a new streak of 1,000-yard seasons. Before last year, he had reached that mark five seasons in a row.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

WR Courtland Sutton: Sutton, a second-round pick, was phenomenal at camp, seemingly making at least one jaw-dropping catch per day. Coach Vance Joseph compares him to DeAndre Hopkins as a rookie.

OLB Bradley Chubb: The first-round pick is already atop the depth chart opposite Von Miller, and both players should be getting to the quarterback early and often.

CB Chris Harris Jr.: With Aqib Talib now on the Rams, Harris is the undisputed leader of the secondary. He and Miller are the longest-tenured defensive players.

4 | OAKLAND

2017 | 6-10, third in West

Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH

CB Gareon Conley: A shin injury limited Conley to two games as a rookie. He’s off to a slow start again after a groin injury forced him to miss part of spring workouts. He also had a hip injury in his first practice at camp, from which he later returned.

LT Kolton Miller: Miller blocked for Josh Rosen at UCLA, where he played on both the left and right sides of the line. The Raiders saw enough good things from the rookie to move three-time Pro Bowl tackle Donald Penn to the right side.

DE Bruce Irvin: With Khalil Mack’s early-September trade to Chicago, his importance only grows. A double-digit sack season would be a good start.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

WR Jordy Nelson: The former Green Bay star has something left in the tank at age 33. The Raiders love his influence on young receiver Amari Cooper, and with former Packer Edgar Bennett coaching receivers, Nelson is a good fit.

DE Arden Key: A rookie from Louisiana State who slipped to the third round because of shoulder and character questions has looked sensational in camp, with explosiveness and a devastating spin move.

DT Maurice Hurst: Concerns about a heart condition discovered at the scouting combine led to Hurst falling to the fifth round. The Raiders think he can be a force in the middle, though.

— Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times