So, how do you feel about Colin Kaepernick? A guide to the 2017 NFL season

Do you remember a time when the most important debate topic in America was whether a middling quarterback who lost his job to Blaine Gabbert had committed the single greatest act of heroism in American history or a heresy nothing short of treason when he kneeled for the national anthem? Oh, the good old days.
           
Anyway, the 2017 season is upon us, and if you can get past the (alleged) brain damage and near constant stream of domestic violence charges, it can still be a heck of a lot of fun to watch—unless you’re a Browns fan. With that said, here are my totally unscientific division recaps and playoff predictions that will almost certainly be wrong. Feel free to insult me at year’s end.
 
AFC West: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Oakland, Los Angeles or wherever
(Full disclosure: I am a Chiefs fan.)
           
As much as it pains me to say it, the Raiders should win this division fairly handily with their rising star quarterback, stellar defense and everyone’s favorite enigma Marshawn Lynch back from retirement. In a few years, the NFL team that most represents lawlessness and depravity will finally be at home in its soul mate city, but they should make the last few years in Oakland worth watching. And for the record, I’ll still hate them when they move to Vegas.
           
The race for second in the west is more of a toss-up. Smart money is on the Chiefs, but with Alex Smith uneasy about the team drafting a young quarterback in the first round, who knows how his psyche will be affected? Will he finally get the guts to throw the ball more than 20 yards down field because his job depends on it? Probably not, but a man can dream.
 
Also, Jamaal Charles—whose Chiefs jersey is the only one I own—is now on the Broncos, so I should probably burn it or something. Denver will stumble through another year with Trevor Siemian at the helm, and despite heading north for the bright lights of LA, the Chargers will still be the Chargers.
 
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