I only saw parts of the Denver/San Diego game yesterday, but most specifically, I saw the fumble. Over. And over. And over.

As a Denver fan and Fox Sports blogger, I felt I should comment.

The truth is, it was a fumble. I know it, you know it. Referee Ed knows it, Jay Cutler knows it. And no one is denying that's what happened. In fact, as I understand it, there were several questionable calls leading up to it, including a fumble that wasn't a fumble by Chris Chambers and a touchdown that was really a bobble by the Bolts.

It's a shame that such a high octane game is decided by poor calls, but it happens. Players and coaches know this to be a truth of this game. The NFL does it's best to making game play as even as possible. I'm not even that old, but I certainly recall the days before instant replay was available. Slowly, the rules evolved so that the refs could get closer to making the right call every time. We still lack perfection. This time, the ball bounced in Denver's favor.

The real bonus is that this is the second week of the season. This is the first of two meetings between these two teams, and this by no means has sealed anyone's fate. Worse calls have been made in bigger games and they have changed the course of NFL history. This will be addressed by the league in the off season, and maybe the next time a game comes down to this, the results will be different.

Still, you have to admire that the teams now compete. After being outscored by 9 total touchdowns last year, a little fortune was good for the Broncos, but it's now a very different game than it was last year. Both offenses are obviously for real, both defenses need a lot of work, and the season rolls on.

Bolts fan can comfort themselves in knowing the game should have had a different result. Broncos fans can rejoyce in the fact that it didn't. The season moves on.

I expect this to kick the rematch into overdrive, and I'm excited to see where both seasons go.

It doesn't seem that long ago that the AFC West was considered to be the toughest division in football. The four teams, year in and year out, were likely to compete not only for their own division, but to rob other divisions of wildcard spots. Then, as was meant to be, the wind shifted. Just as the Chargers finally rose to the top, the world seemed to go topsy-turvy. It was suddenly all about gloating who was going to get the highest draft spot.

But as a Broncos fan, I want all teams to rise again, to become feared amongst other divisions, and to fulfill an ache for true rivalries that matter. What follows is what I see in the West now, and the biggest reason we need a rivalry to begin anew now.

San Diego Chargers - Without a doubt, they are the toast of the division at the moment, but... sadly, that's about as far as it goes. The talent has been there for years, and unlike many other teams, has maintained a large sense of consistency. There is no doubt that they should be capable to win a Superbowl... or multiple playoff games. Perhaps a second year with the coaching staff will put them over the top, but... I can't be sure. Chris Chambers being more ingrained in the offense will help too. They should be good again this year.
Reason for a rivalry: If you're not a Chargers fan, you likely hate Philip Rivers. He doesn't have the talent level of Tomlinson or Merrimen, but he makes up for it in unjustified sense of smack talking. I know several defensive players have put a large target on him.

Denver Broncos - Denver fans have been fortunate to have a very competitive team for many years. Even in some of the worst years the team has had recently, they still put together the second best record in the division. That being said, the true level ability seems in question. For every postive aspect of the team (Champ Bailey is the best corner in the game, Brandon Marshall is an unforeseen talent, The Denver run system) there is a negetive (Dre' Bly won't tackle and gets burned, Brandon Marshall wrestle with unforeseen objects, The line is as hard to get around as the boarder fence). While very strong acquisitions have been made in the off-season, addressing weaknesses on defense, O-line and special team, it remains to be seen whether the Broncs will treat Denver to another playoff trip, or whether we're rebuilding more than we thought. I'm hoping for the best, but... there is no promise.
Reason for a rivalry: Mike Shanahan. Like other coaches marked as "genius", if you're not a fan of the team, you want him to fail. Even the winning of two super bowl rings doesn't decrease this emotion, but rather pushes it further. The current theory is that Shanny won't win without Elway, and Elway couldn't have won without T.D. Every rival armchair quarterback loves to ask the question "who's a genius now?"

Kansas City Chiefs - KC has come upon hard times. Once the offensive line started showing their age, this often underrated but often competitive team started losing the ability to compete. This off-season, the coaching staff made the wise choice of calling this time what it was, and truly establishing a rebuilding process. The difficult choice to trade away top talent Jared Allen resulted in one of the mightest drafts of recent memory. The bold choice not to push competition on QB Croyle was also ingenious. Now, given time and consistency, the team is a few years out from having a truly scary team that will last years. But, don't expect a miracle this year.
Reason for a rivalry: Right now, it's Arrowhead. In a division that boasts both Mile High Stadium and the Black Hole, Arrowhead stadium has become the most difficult place to come to. As the talent on the team matures, I'm sure it will become a reasoning that follows the team on the road.

Oakland Raiders - Javon Walker. DeAngelo Hall. DMF. While major off-season gains for the team, it's left most of the league scatching their heads while the Raider-nation is loving it. To me, it looks like a series of moves I made when playing Madden Football's "Franchise" mode years ago. A lot of measureables, but not a lot of team. The plan may work. Or you might have found the fastest, strongest headcases, and locked them in a room, expecting to them to be victorious. I can't really say. But I don't have a good feeling about it.
Reason for a rivalry: Al Davis is pretty much the agreed embodiment of darkness in the NFL. The question is, do you follow that darkness, or not? Even some Raider's fans I've spoken with have wondered if the team will hit stride before he kicks the bucket. To his credit, he doesn't care what anyone thinks. He's as nuts as he wants to be, and that scariness is a reason to want them to be competitive. Every hero needs a villian... and it helps if the villian is completely cool with that casting.

Here's to hoping for top teams across the board (with the Broncs coming out on top, of course).

I love the open nature of these blogs. It's amazing how so many people can be oh so right and oh so wrong... and yet none of us knows for sure.

I was going to post something to boo the Patriots, but I decided, why not spread the pain? Besides, I'm probably not right, but I might not be wrong either.

The following is my humble opinion as to why the team you see as a power house (New England, Indianapolis, San Diego, Denver, and New Orleans)  will suck.

New England Patriots -

Everyone wants to get on this band wagon so bad. Has anyone stopped to think why Belicheck is making all these moves? This strikes me as a man's last stab at glory... and while the names are big, the New England Patriots were able to win Super Bowls off of the idea of a team. This team will explode mid-season when Randy Moss starts making jokes about the latest loss being "The Brain on drugs". It's all downhill from there, when in an attempt to regain his former team roll, Reche Caldwell claims that he too is carrying Tom Brady's child.

Indianapolis Colts -

Peyton Manning will get "lost" coming back from his 1 millionth commercial shoot. The team will be a mess without him, and suddenly realize that in this case, one man really can make a team. It will later be revealed that Pacman Jones was involved in Peyton's 14 week "detour".

San Diego Charges -

In a strange fit of new found power, A.J. Smith will begin firing anyone who looks at him cross eyed. LaDanian Tomlinson will start the last 9 games for the Houston Texans, and finally win a Super Bowl ring. They do almost lose in the AFC championship to the Tennessee Titans, led by Philp Rivers (Vince Young was put on I.R. earlier in the season for "unexplainable Madden related injuries")

Denver Broncos -

Seeming the earlier front runners for a Super Bowl run, the entire team is sadly sucked into a time vortex when Jay Cutler throws as hard as he can in practice and tears the fabric of reality. The team will reemerge in 2026 and lead humanity to a victory against the space people. Final score: Broncos 133 - Aliens 54.

New Orleans Saints -

The team that everyone has to love a little bit will suffer the sad realization that they are in the NFC, and the NFC sucks.

OK, sue me. I'm high on cough syrup. I thought it was funny.