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Let’s look at one road trip fans should take to see their favorite AFC West team in 2012:

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Oct. 7

Why: New England is beautiful that time of year and seeing Peyton Manning-Tom Brady live is a priceless experience.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers, Nov. 1

Why: Start a long weekend in a great city with a cool intra-divisional Thursday night game.

Oakland Raiders at Broncos, Sept. 30

Why: I know many commenters on this blog are planning this trip. Hope to see you there.

San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints, Oct. 7

Why: A Philip Rivers-Drew Brees matchup in a tremendous city is a hot ticket.

Here’s a list of some of the most compelling 2012 NFL games involving AFC West teams:

Sept. 9

Atlanta at Kansas City

Tony Gonzalez comes back to Kansas City.

Pittsburgh at Denver

The Steelers lost to Tim Tebow in their last game; they return to Denver to help the Broncos usher in the Peyton Manning era.

Sept. 10

San Diego at Oakland

I just love these season-opening Monday nighters.

Oct. 7

Denver at New England

Manning-Tom Brady has a new look. Still a classic.

San Diego at New Orleans

Philip Rivers-Drew Brees isn’t too shabby, either.

Oct. 15

Denver at San Diego

Early-season statement game on a Monday night.

Oct. 28

New Orleans at Denver

Manning faces the team that kept a Super Bowl ring from him.

Nov. 1

Kansas City at San Diego

Second half of the season starts on a Thursday night.

Nov. 12

Kansas City at Pittsburgh

Chiefs face Todd Haley, their former coach turned Steelers offensive coordinator, on a Monday Night. Should be fun.

Nov. 25

Oakland at Cincinnati

Carson Palmer goes back to Cincy to see Hue Jackson, the man who brought him to Oakland.

Dec. 6

Denver at Oakland

Rivalry gets a Thursday-night taste.

Dec. 23

San Diego at New York Jets

The AFC West’s lone crack at Tebow gets prime-time slot.

Dec. 30

Kansas City at Denver, Oakland at San Diego

If this division is as tight in 2012 as it was in 2011, this day will be crucial.

Breakdown: The Chargers will be on "Monday Night Football" twice. They open the season at Oakland in the second game of a Monday night doubleheader. The Chargers must get used to playing in prime time. They have five night games and they come early in the schedule.

The Chargers play in prime time in Week 5 -- at home on Sunday night against Drew Brees and the Saints. San Diego then plays at Denver against Peyton Manning on Monday night in Week 6. The Chargers host Kansas City in a Thursday night game on Nov. 1 and visit Tim Tebow and the Jets on Dec. 23.

Complaint department: The Chargers have challenges throughout the season, especially in the second half with some difficult road games. Playing at Pittsburgh in Week 14 and the Jets in Week 16 is not ideal for a team that will likely be playing meaningful late-season games.

Start fast:Starting fast is always paramount in San Diego. This season is no different with coach Norv Turner on the hot seat. After opening at Oakland, the Chargers have tough home games against the Titans and Falcons in Week 2 and 3, respectively. Starting strong was a problem until last year, when the Chargers fell apart with a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season. But if the Chargers don’t start quickly in 2012, the pressure will be on Turner.

Chargers Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10, at Oakland, 10:15 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, Tennessee, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, Atlanta, 4:05 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at New Orleans, 8:20 PM
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 15, Denver, 8:30 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Thursday, Nov. 1, Kansas City, 8:20 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, Baltimore, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, Cincinnati, 4:15 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, Carolina, 4:05 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at N.Y. Jets, 8:20 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, Oakland, 4:15 PM

The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs might both consider taking a quarterback in the draft. Let’s look at the top quarterbacks and the chances that they land with either team.

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Known for: Being one of the best overall prospects in the past several years. He is considered a sure thing.

Draft range: Barring a major upset, Luck will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Yes, the Chiefs interviewed Luck on Friday, but Luck is going to be a Colt. It’s as simple as that.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Known for: Being a total package. The Heisman Trophy winner can run and throw. He is also known as a high-character individual.

Draft range: The St. Louis Rams are expected to put the No. 2 pick up for auction, sending it to the bidder that wants Griffin the most.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: The Chiefs have met with Griffin and coach Romeo Crennel was smitten with him. There could be a chance Griffin ends up a Chief, but the price would be sky-high. I’d call it a real longshot.

Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Known for: A former receiver, the athletic Tannehill is a skilled drop-back quarterback who is the third-best signal-caller in a pretty strong class.

Draft range: ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay thinks he’ll be a top-20 pick.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Kansas City did meet with Tannehill. Taking him at No. 11 may be a little high, but perhaps the Chiefs could trade down a few spots and still grab him. If he becomes a Chief, Tannehill will likely become the starter fairly soon. McShay had Denver taking Tannehill at No. 25 in his most recent mock draft, but the Broncos will probably have to trade up to get him and that's unlikely.

Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Known for: Being the old guy. Weeden will turn 29 during the 2012 season and he is older than NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Still, Weeden has NFL skills and the former New York Yankees farmhand is one of the most intriguing players in the draft.

Draft range: He could go late in the first round or in the first half of the second round, but Weeden raised some red flags with an erratic performance at the combine.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think this is where we start to look for legitimate pairings for either Denver or Kansas City. If Weeden gets to the second round, I can see Kansas City grabbing him. If he gets to Denver’s spot in the second round, I think he will be a favorite to be taken there. Weeden might not have a long NFL career, but it could be productive.

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

Known for: Being the big man. Osweiler is nearly 6-foot-7. Still, he is athletic, a leader and has a big arm. He is a player to watch develop.

Draft range: He’d have to be a workout star to be a first-rounder, but some team will take Osweiler in the second round, perhaps early.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Osweiler had a meeting with the Chiefs; he has to be considered a candidate for their second-round pick. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Denver ending up taking him, but it may have to trade up to get him.

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

Known for: A solid player who has a chance to develop into a strong NFL presence.

Draft range: Cousins had a terrific combine and he is a strong second-round prospect. In fact, if he has a strong pro day, he could end up being a top-35 pick.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: McShay thinks this is the player Denver could take a shot on in the second round. And because the talent level drops after Cousins, the Broncos may be compelled to make a play for him.

Nick Foles, Arizona

Known for: Foles might have been a better prospect had he come out last year — accuracy issues in 2011 hurt his draft stock. Plus, he didn't perform well at the combine. He ran slowly and struggled with some throws. However, he has a strong skill set and many NFL scouts think he can be a legitimate starter.

Draft range: He is like Weeden. A top-40 pick if indeed he doesn't go in the first round.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think Denver cooled on him during last season, but with a strong pro day, Foles could get back on the Broncos' radar, and he’d be a good value pick in the third or fourth round. I think the Chiefs might have other favorites at this point.

Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

Known for: Wilson is athletic and has a big arm. However, he measured in at 5-11 at the combine — considered too short to be a productive NFL starter.

Draft range: Wilson is a third-day project.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think if Denver is looking for a backup to Tim Tebow, Wilson might be worth putting in the program to see how he performs in the preseason. Drew Brees isn’t a giant, but he’s probably headed to the Hall of Fame, so Wilson is worth checking out.

Kellen Moore, Boise State

Known for: He was a prolific passer for the Broncos. He is rugged, smart and a playmaker. But, at 6 feet, Moore has the same problem Wilson has.

Draft range: Like Wilson, Moore is likely a third-day prospect.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think any team looking for a quarterback may take a shot at Moore. At the very least, he could become a solid backup. He’s intriguing at the right spot.

Free agency is seven weeks away. A lot will happen before it starts. Players can re-sign with their teams; teams can place franchise tags on players. But as of right now, let’s have a little fun and pick one free agent each team in the AFC West might have atop its wish list.

This is based on need and fit and not whether it is financially feasible:

Denver: Matt Forte, running back, Chicago. Forte will likely be given the franchise tag, but if he were to hit the market, he’d be a great fit in Denver. A backfield of Forte and Willis McGahee would take pressure off quarterback Tim Tebow. I’m sure Forte would be interested in going to Denver because of the team's emphasis on the run.

Kansas City: Mario Williams, linebacker, Houston. He could be tagged, too. Williams might not be a perfect fit for a 3-4 defense, but showed last season before he was hurt that he can play in the system. A Williams-Tamba Hali pass rush could be devastating.

Oakland: Cortland Finnegan, cornerback, Tennessee. Another franchise-tag candidate. But I think this is Oakland’s greatest area of immediate need and Finnegan would be an excellent fit. He is tough and brash and would go a long way in reconstructing this defense. A more realistic, and cheaper, option could be New Orleans’ Tracy Porter. He played for new Oakland coach Dennis Allen when Allen was was the Saints’ secondary coach, but Finnegan would be the dream pick.

San Diego: Carl Nicks, guard, New Orleans. He is one of the highest-rated players in free agency, and because the Saints need to take care of quarterback Drew Brees, Nicks might get loose. The Chargers are facing potential major change on the offensive line. He would be a great anchor to a changing line. San Diego usually doesn’t spend in free agency and it has to address receiver Vincent Jackson. But the Chargers have to prove to fans they mean business and this would be a nice start.

Again, it’s very premature and some of these players might be not even get to the market. Who do you see fitting into the AFC West? Fill up the comment section below with your thoughts.

Let’s look at some key statistics for each AFC West team heading into Week 17, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

DENVER

The Broncos have lost two straight games going into Sunday’s home game against Kansas City. Denver will advance to the playoffs for the first time in six years if it wins Sunday. However, Denver has been in this situation before. It was alive in the final week of the season in 2006, 2008 and 2009. It lost all three times. The Broncos are just 7-16 combined in the final four games of the season dating back to 2006.

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow has seen 30.8 of his incomplete passes fall due to overthrows. It’s the most in the NFL. But his accuracy has improved in the past four games. He has completed 51.4 percent of his passes in the past four games, while he completed just 45.5 percent of his passes in his first seven games.

KANSAS CITY

Former Denver quarterback and current Kansas City quarterback Kyle Orton has not been sacked in 68 pass attempts with the Chiefs. Orton has been sacked nine times this season. He has the fourth lowest percentage of pass plays that resulted in sacks in the NFL.

The Chiefs’ defense ranks second in the NFL percentage of passes intercepted at 4.4 this season. Kansas City has 19 interceptions this season.

OAKLAND

Oakland’s pass defense has been terrific in the red zone. The Raiders have intercepted or defended more passes in the end zone than any team in the NFL. They have a combined 17 of those plays. The next best in the league is New England with 12.

The Raiders have not scored more than seven points in the first quarter of any game this season. They have 49 points in the first quarter, which is the 24th lowest total in the NFL.

The Raiders have allowed the most points in the NFL after halftime with 235. They have scored 153 points after halftime.

Before running back Darren McFadden was injured Oct. 23, Oakland averaged 159.3 rushing yards per game and had the No. 2 ranked rushing offense in the NFL. In the eight games since then, Oakland has averaged 111.5 yards per game, which is 18th in the league.

Quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown nine of his 15 interceptions this season against AFC West opponents. He has thrown interceptions on 5.3 percent of his passes, which is the second highest percentage in the NFL.

SAN DIEGO

The Chargers have allowed opponents to convert 48.4 percent of their third-down plays. It is the worst percentage in the NFL. It is difficult to win if you can’t get your defense off the field.

If quarterback Philip Rivers throws one more interception and throws for 186 more yards, he will join the likes of Dan Fouts, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Warren Moon and Dan Marino, who had seasons in which they threw for more than 4,500 yards and had at least 20 interceptions.

The future of San Diego general manager A.J. Smith will remain a hot topic for the next several days.

There is a chance he is fired along with coach Norv Turner as soon as next week. The San Diego Union Tribune reported that Smith could end up as the general manager in St. Louis and bring former Oakland and Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden with him as coach.

Perhaps San Diego management will read that news and think a Smith-Gruden pairing could work in San Diego. ESPN released a statement saying Gruden remains committed to being part of the “Monday Night Football” broadcasting team.

Regardless of what happens, expect to hear plenty about Smith’s future. It seems like Turner’s future has been decided, but Smith could still end up in San Diego.

By the way, it couldn’t have sit well in San Diego on Monday night when ex-Chargers Drew Brees and Darren Sproles connected for a touchdown on a play where Brees became the single-season passing yardage record holder in the NFL.

Brees left San Diego as a free agent after the 2005 season. Sproles signed with the Saints last summer.

It’s difficult to bang on Smith for letting Brees go. The Chargers had Philip Rivers -- Brees was hurt when he left -- and the Chargers are in good shape with Rivers moving forward. However, letting Sproles walk was a mistake. The Chargers’ offense missed a key dimension without Sproles this season.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Hue Jackson, Oakland, coach: Earlier in the season, Jackson predicted Oakland would win the division. Going into the Detroit game, Jackson called it a must-win. However, Jackson helped contribute to his team’s loss to the Lions. He made some questionable decisions in an eventual 28-27 loss to Detroit that kept the Raiders from tying Denver for first place in the division. I highly doubt the rookie coach is in trouble, but he needs to find a way to stop a three-game losing streak in December.

2. Denver’s ball security: One of the reasons Denver turned its season around was that it held on to the ball. That did not happen Sunday as the Broncos lost three fumbles in their territory in the second quarter to help turn a nine-point lead into an 11-point deficit at halftime in a 41-23 loss to New England.

3. Faith in Oakland’s defense: Oakland’s defense is talented, but that's not enough. It has been giving up big plays all season, and it completely collapsed Sunday as Detroit turned a 13-point deficit into a win by scoring two touchdowns in the final five minutes to hurt Oakland’s playoff chances.

RISING

1. Division intrigue: Every team in the division is entering Week 16 with a chance to win the division, as two games separate first-place Denver (8-6) and last-place Kansas City (6-8). Oakland and San Diego are both 7-7. Denver has the best chance, followed by Oakland, San Diego and Kansas City. But it’s pretty impressive that every team is still playing for something. It’s the only division in the NFL where each team is still alive in the division chase.

2. Romeo Crennel, Chiefs coach: What’s the best way for an interim coach to make a statement that he belongs in the big chair permanently? Ruin a perfect season for an opponent. That’s exactly what Crennel did Sunday in his first game as the interim coach after the Chiefs jettisoned Todd Haley last week. The Chiefs outplayed and shocked Green Bay 19-14. Crennel likely isn’t a lock to be the Chiefs’ coach next year, but he helped his cause immensely with this win.

3. Philip Rivers’ legacy: Forget all the talk about the Chargers' quarterback being done. He has been outstanding for the past month, and Sunday he became the third quarterback in history (joining Peyton Manning and Drew Brees) to throw for more than 4,000 yards in four straight seasons.

The championship window has closed in San Diego.

Once considered the best roster in the league, the San Diego Chargers have seen impressive depth dwindle, they’ve gotten old in key spots and they have lacked toughness. The result has been a steady decline in the last two years.

“They are one of the most confusing teams I’ve ever seen,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said. “You expect so much from them and then they don’t deliver … They should be so much better, but then you watch them and they can’t do it. I just don’t get them.”

The Chargers -- widely considered as a Super Bowl contender going into this season -- stagger into a Monday night game at Jacksonville on a six-game losing skid. It is the Chargers’ longest such streak in 10 years.

After starting 4-1 and looking like a playoff team, San Diego is now 4-7 and apparently on course to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. After owning the AFC West for four years, the Chargers are 13-14 since the start of the 2010 season.

When a rift developed between general manager A.J. Smith and coach Marty Schottenheimer after the Chargers went 14-2 in 2006, Smith hired Norv Turner to take a stacked roster to the Super Bowl. That probably won’t happen. Turner, who is 45-30 as Chargers coach, is expected to be fired unless the Chargers, who are three games behind in both the AFC West and the AFC wild-card races with five games to go, make a miraculous playoff run. Smith's job could also be in danger, particularly if San Diego ownership wants to break the bank and make a run at someone like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. There have also been indications that the team is open to continuing with Smith as the top football decision-maker.

However, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that the team may be leaning toward firing Smith.

The Chargers have long been lauded for their roster of big-name talent. In the past decade, they drafted potential Hall of Famers in LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers and signed potential Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates. They also drafted Shawne Merriman, who had a strong first three years as a premier pass-rusher before disappearing because of injuries.

All the Chargers have remaining from that group is Rivers, who turns 30 this month, and Gates, who is 31 and who has been dealing with serious foot injuries for three years.

Whoever coaches the Chargers in 2012 – Cowher and Jeff Fisher are already being mentioned as potential candidates – will have some work to do. Some solid core players remain, starting with Rivers, who is struggling through his worst NFL season. Still, the Chargers probably will have to be rebuilt in several areas.

“They aren’t as deep as we always thought they were,” Horton said. “They have problems on the offensive line, their receivers aren’t that strong and the defense doesn’t pass rush anymore."

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks San Diego has some core players -- but not a ton of them, and some of them have question marks. Williamson says Rivers, receiver Vincent Jackson, Gates, guard Kris Dielman, defensive tackle Antonio Garay, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Quentin Jammer and safety Eric Weddle are all players who can help the team in the future. Williamson also thinks the team’s last two first-round picks, running back Ryan Mathews and defensive lineman Corey Liuget, have a chance to be core players.

Jackson, who has been inconsistent this year, is a free agent after the season. The Chargers may place the franchise tag on him. Rivers, Gates, Dielman (out for the season with a concussion), Garay, Phillips and Jammer will be 30 or older next season. Still, Williamson believes a coaching change could help provide a spark.

“It’s not all Norv’s fault, but he is not maximizing his team’s potential, which is obviously a key component to his job,” Williamson said.

Horton said he believes that if the Chargers do make a coaching change, they need to bring in a taskmaster. There have been whispers among scouts the past couple of years that the Chargers get outmuscled too often. There have been times when San Diego has been manhandled on both lines, including a few instances against the more physical Raiders.

“I like Norv, but I get the feeling they are not playing hard for him,” Horton said. “They always look soft to me, and they often don’t play with a sense of urgency.”

Still, the Chargers have not been blown out this season and they could have won all seven of their losses; indeed, they have made crucial fourth-quarter (or overtime) mistakes in each of their losses. Turner said this week that effort is not a problem.

“Go through the tapes and there’s great effort,” Turner said. “These guys play hard.”

The players I have talked to in San Diego’s locker room know that change is likely to come, and they say they feel bad that Turner is probably going to be the person to pay for the team’s failures. But it is clear that the Chargers’ time as elite playoff contenders is over. If they are going to re-open their Super Bowl window, it will probably be with new leadership.

Here are some highlights from our AFC West portion of Wednesday’s mega-chat to kickoff the start of the season:

Denver

Justin from Soldotna, Alaska: There's been some talk about the Broncos not being as bad as everyone initially thought. With a John Fox revamped top 15 defense (cross my fingers) and Orton playing 16 the way he played the first 8 last year...can they make the playoffs?

Bill Williamson: I think the playoffs may be a tad too lofty of a goal. But I think Fox will improve this team. Denver is on the right track but the rebuilding starts now.

Kansas City

David from Iowa: Any word on [Jonathan] Baldwin? is he ready to go yet?

BW: We should learn more this week. But there have been indications he may still need a little more time. Add in the time missed because of the lost practice time and the reported fight with Thomas Jones is really pushing back Baldwin's development.

UPDATE: The Chiefs announced that Baldwin did not practice at all Wednesday.

Oakland

Eddie from California: Hey Bill, I saw how DVD [Oakland Corner] got abused by Brees in the preseason. Do you think it was just a bad game, or a sign of things to come from our young secondary?

BW: I just think it was a likely hall of famer torching a third-round pick in the preseason. What else was expected? It doesn't mean Van Dyke will be a bust.

San Diego

Don from Detroit: Bill, I think Vincent Jackson will have a huge year. Agree or disagree, and why? Thanks!

BW: Oh, I agree. I'm a huge Jackson fan. He is not rusty and he needs a big year to get a big contract somewhere next offseason. So, yes, I expect a big year from Jackson.

For the next couple of days, at least, the AFC West is home to a reality television star. Yeah, pretty cool.

Glenn Pakulak -- in his third preseason as an Oakland punter -- is part of the cast on Bravo’s “Most Eligible Dallas,” which airs Monday at 10 p.m. The series follows some of Dallas’ most social folks.

I caught up with Pakulak on Thursday before the Raiders flew to Seattle for Friday’s preseason finale. Pakulak, who expects to be cut Saturday because of the presence of superstar punter Shane Lechler in Oakland, will get plenty of time to impress other teams Friday. As Oakland plans to rest Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Pakulak (who has been with seven NFL teams) said he expects to handle every kicking duty -- punting, kickoffs, extra points and field-goal duties against Seattle. He hasn’t attempted a field goal in a game since high school.

Still, he took time to play five questions:

Bill Williamson: How did your involvement with the show come about?

Glenn Pakulak: “I moved to Dallas a couple of years ago to start a clothing line with good friends Wes Welker (New England’s star receiver) and Kliff Kingsbury (former Texas Tech star quarterback who is now the offensive coordinator at Houston) and I have more time to spend on the line than those guys do because of the stability of their jobs. I think Bravo thought it was neat that I’m a journeyman punter who is also multi-faceted as I also do fitness modeling and I’m involved in fashion design, which is big part of Bravo.”

BW: Do your teammates razz you for being on the show?

GP: (Laughing),Oh yeah. That’s good timing for this question. Just this morning our special teams coach, John Fassel showed my modeling shoot to the entire team. That was the most embarrassing thing to happen. Sunday, we played New Orleans and I saw Drew Brees (a former teammate) and he was heckling the heck out of me.”

BW: What are your immediate plans after you will likely be cut soon?

GP: I really enjoy being in Oakland and working with Shane and Sebastian. They are the best of the best. But this also gives me an opportunity to play in the preseason and show other teams what I can do. I had a good preseason, so hopefully I get picked up. I’m looking forward (to the next week). You never know what opportunity will come next.”

BW: What are your post-football plans?

GP: I will continue to do fitness modeling, and maybe go back to teaching and doing punting camps. I really enjoy working with kids.”

BW: Would you do the television show again?

GP: Definitely, I’ll do the show as long as they want me to do it. I will have as many coals in the fire as possible and scrap off the ones that don’t catch and keep on doing the ones that do catch.”

OAKLAND -- A look at the Oakland Raiders' 40-20 defeat to visiting the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night:

What it means: The Raiders bounced back well offensively after a flat performance at San Francisco last week, but their defense continued to be leaky in the third (and most important) preseason game.

Tomorrow’s talker: The Raiders’ first-team offense was solid. Quarterback Jason Campbell looked good. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 150 yards. He looks like he is improved from last year and he seems to be responding well to his coaching. If Campbell can continue to make strides, this offense has a chance to be strong. There is young, good talent here (I love rookies Denarius Moore and Taiwan Jones). The Raiders have potential to light up scoreboards.

Trending: The Oakland secondary is a concern in its post-Nnamdi Asomugha world. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw at will. He had 189 yards passing before leaving late in the second quarter. New Orleans converted six of eight third-down plays when Brees was on the field. Pass defense has been a problem for Oakland all summer and it continued Sunday night. I don’t know if newly signed Lito Sheppard is the answer, but he may get the chance to show he can still play. Rookie DeMarcus Van Dyke is not ready for the regular-season lights.

What’s next: The Raiders complete their preseason Friday night at Seattle. The game will have interest because rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor is expected to play. Oakland drafted the former Ohio State quarterback in the supplemental draft on Monday.

OAKLAND -- Notes from halftime as the New Orleans Saints lead the Oakland Raiders, 17-10 in a preseason game:

• New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, a long-time Raider killer, ripped the Raiders apart again. He threw for 189 yards before being taken out late in the half. The Saints were 6-for-8 on third-down conversions with Brees in the game. New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham had five catches for 73 yards in the first half.

• The Raiders’ offense looked great on their first series. Everyone looked sharp as they cruised down the field 91 yards for a touchdown. Running back Michael Bush was tremendous as he had 32 yards on five carries in the first half. He looks to be in midseason form.

• Rookie Taiwan Jones had 10 yards on four carries and he had a nifty run on a short pass called back by penalty. Yes, he is as advertised -- the fourth-round pick can fly. Expect Oakland to feature him on third-down screen plays during the season.

• Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski showed off his monster leg with a 57-yard field goal. I’m not one to make outrageous predictions, but mark me down for this one: Janikowski breaks the NFL record for the longest field goal this season. He has the leg and Oakland coach Hue Jackson trusts him. The record is 63 yards.

• Brees picked on rookie DeMarcus Van Dyke at will. Van Dyke is getting great experience, but if he doesn’t make fast strides, teams will challenge him early and often when he is on the field.

• Veteran receiver Derek Hagan scored on a 35-yard pass from Jason Campbell on the team's first possession. The journeyman receiver is having a strong summer and he could be in Oakland’s receiving rotation.

• Campbell was sharp. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 150 yards. He looked good in the two-minute drill on the final drive of the half before he was picked off on a deflected pass. Campbell did well in the two-minute drill late last season.

• Oakland’s offensive line looked solid. It’s a work in progress, but it is making strides. I like rookie Stefen Wisniewski at left guard and veteran Samson Satele at center. Wisniewski is very athletic and seems to play with a nasty streak. He excelled in the first half in run blocking.

• Defensive lineman Richard Seymour is being held out with a hamstring injury.

• Running back Darren McFadden and receiver Jacoby Ford also are among those not playing. They returned to practice this week, but they are being held out as a precaution. Expect to see them when the regular season begins in Denver.

• Pass-rusher Trevor Scott played for the first time since suffering a knee injury in November.

• Oakland second-year middle linebacker Rolando McClain looks very active. He is always near the ball.

• Nick Miler muffed the opening kickoff. Not a great move for a guy on the bubble.

• NBC reported during its telecast that quarterback Terelle Pryor will not play Sunday night, but he will play Friday in the preseason finale at Seattle. Oakland took the former Ohio State quarterback in the supplemental draft Monday.

• Oakland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey had two drops.

• Jeff Miller, the head of NFL security, is at the game as part of the league’s investigation into the fan violence following the Raiders’ game at San Francisco last week. He said the league hasn’t made a final decision on whether or not the annual preseason series between the two Bay Area teams will be postponed next year. That recommendation has been made.

Sports Illusrated’s Peter King said Nnamdi Asomugha took less money from the Eagles than he would have gotten elsewhere because that’s where he wanted to land. Meanwhile, New York didn’t take kindly to Asomugha spurning the Jets for the Eagles.

ESPN’s Ashley Fox thinks Asomugha could help the Eagles to the Super Bowl this season. Sounds about right.

In other AFC West nuggets on an early Saturday afternoon:

The Denver Post thinks a Kyle Orton trade to Miami is dead because Orton can’t come to a contract accord with the Dolphins. Here’s an opinion that says the deal will still get done.

There is competition at right guard in San Diego.

Second-year guard Jon Asamoah has a chance to start after the Chiefs cut long-time stalwart Brian Waters.

Drew Brees loves having Darren Sproles in New Orleans.

The Chiefs don’t think tight end Tony Moeaki will be out of practice for long.

The Raiders are getting a good look at whether tackle Jared Gaither is healthy or not. If so, he could soon be signed.

After a rocky year, San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson says he feels at “home” with the Chargers. The question is, will it be his home after this season?

The Raiders reached out to their fans in a video to say thanks for hanging in during the lockout.

NFL.com is reporting former Denver tight end Daniel Graham is visiting the Steelers.

The Chiefs signed former Northwestern receiver Zeke Markshausen. He was in the Bears’ camp last year. He will have a difficult time making the roster.

There are six active starting NFL quarterbacks who have won a Super Bowl.

Philip Rivers is not one of them.

That fact hangs over Rivers’ head and will be the biggest question mark about him until he wins one. There’s little doubt that the San Diego Chargers’ prolific, big-armed, big-hearted leader is the best active quarterback alive without a Super Bowl ring.

If Rivers, 29, ends his career without hardware, will it prevent him from being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? After his first five seasons as an NFL starting quarterback, Rivers (the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft) has compiled statistics that suggest he is on his way to making the Canton, Ohio, museum.

And, thus far, he compares with non-Super Bowl-winning modern era quarterbacks such as Jim Kelly, Warren Moon, Dan Marino and fellow Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts.

“I think he’s on his way,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said of Rivers' chances of becoming bronzed. “He’s got the look of a Hall of Fame player. He belongs with those names that have made it recently … It would really help his cause if he won a championship, but he’s on pace in my mind.”

Quarterbacks are judged on championships, and Rivers has pressure because several quarterbacks he is judged directly against have won Super Bowls recently.

New Orleans' Drew Brees won the title after the 2009 season. Brees left San Diego after the Chargers decided to start Rivers in 2006. The Giants' Eli Manning won the title in 2008. Manning and Rivers were the centerpieces of a 2004 draft-day trade. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls. He was picked seven slots after Rivers in 2004. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers won the Super Bowl earlier this year. He was drafted the year after Rivers.

The two other active quarterbacks to have won the Super Bowl are New England's Tom Brady (three rings) and the Colts' Peyton Manning (one).

If Rivers doesn't win a Super Bowl in his career, it could be held against him in the Hall of Fame voting room, especially if a few more quarterbacks win titles before he retires. The numbers could be stacked against him.

Brady and Peyton Manning are slam dunk Hall of Famers. I'd think Roethlisberger, Brees and Rodgers are in good shape to make it unless they all totally fall apart. Recent retiree Brett Favre will make it, and fellow recent retiree Kurt Warner has a great chance to be enshrined. The late Steve McNair could also get some consideration. Thus, a lot of quarterbacks who played during Rivers' career could be heading into the Hall of Fame in the next five to 15 years.

Seven quarterbacks have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame in the past 15 years. But this is a golden age of quarterbacking, so a large number will get in if they are deemed worthy by the voting committee. Winning that elusive ring is always recommended. A title could be the difference for Rivers between getting elected quickly and having a long wait.

Still, Rivers’ numbers show he is on pace to be considered seriously for Hall of Fame enshrinement.

In his career, Rivers (who threw a total of 30 passes in his first two NFL seasons) has thrown for 19,661 career yards. He has thrown 136 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. His career passer rating is 97.2. In 15 career seasons, Fouts threw for 43,040 yards, 254 touchdowns and 242 interceptions, and his passer rating was 80.2. Rivers is on pace for a much better career than Fouts, who never went to a Super Bowl but is enshrined in Canton.

Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls, played 11 seasons in the NFL. He threw for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 84.4. Moon played 17 seasons in the NFL. He threw for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 80.9. Dan Marino played 17 seasons. He threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 86.4

If Rivers continues to play at a high level, he could be in the neighborhood of some of these Hall of Fame quarterbacks who did not win a Super Bowl.

Of the active Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, only Rodgers has a better career passer rating than Rivers. Peyton Manning, Brady and Brees have more touchdown passes, and Peyton Manning and Brees have more passing yardage than Rivers since 2006.

“He stacks up with a lot the current guys and the recent Hall of Famers,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “I think he is very much in the same class as Kelly or Moon for sure -- and maybe even Marino. Longevity will be key, but his lifetime numbers should be off the charts.”

If Rivers (who had a famously speedy recovery from a torn ACL in the 2007 playoffs) can stay healthy, he should make a serious Canton push, ring or no ring.

“The guy has everything,” Horton said. “He’s a son of a coach. He’s a gym rat. He has great skills. He showed last year he can succeed with street free agents because all of his guys were hurt … Philip Rivers is a Hall of Fame type guy, there’s no doubt about it.”