Ranking the Most Optimistic Fanbases in the AFC West

Remember the American Football League.

That could be the battle cry of the AFC West. The four teams in the division all played in the old AFL, going back to the league's first season in 1960.

That league featured wide-open offensive attacks and hard-hitting defenses, and all four teams have created their own unique identities.

Three of the four teams have won Super Bowls, and the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy multiple times.

The San Diego Chargers have had some magnificent teams over the years, reaching the Super Bowl once, but they have never lifted the trophy.

Whenever any of the AFC West teams compete against each other, the spirit of the old AFL is alive and well.

In this piece we look at all four fanbases within the AFC West.

Warning: Links to Reddit contain NSFW language.

4. San Diego Chargers

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For years, a trip to San Diego meant opponents had to be ready for one of the most high-powered and exciting offensive attacks in the NFL. 

The quarterbacks who have lit up the scoreboard for this team include John Hadl, Dan Fouts, Stan Humphries and Philip Rivers, all of whom have been throwing machines who have not always been surrounded by a strong running game or a powerful defense.

While Chargers football has regularly equaled offensive excitement and big-play ability, San Diego fans are a lot more concerned with keeping their team than wins and losses in 2015.

The Chargers are considering a move away from their long-time home. The Spanos family has not been successful in its plans to secure a new stadium in San Diego, and the team is considering a move to Los Angeles.

The Chargers will file for relocation to Los Angeles in January, according to Chargers representative Mark Fabiani.

While it seems that a move is likely, the Chargers fans demonstrated in this Reddit thread that they are still devoted and want to see improvement from a team that is just 2-7 this season.

3. Oakland Raiders

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Raiders fans know their team could be on the move in the near future.

The team has been playing in the antiquated and small Oakland Coliseum, which makes it tough to compete when opponents around the league have modern palaces with much greater revenue streams.

If the Raiders were to leave Oakland, it would be deja vu for Raiders fans. That happened previously when late owner Al Davis moved the team to Los Angeles prior to the 1982 season, and it stayed there through 1994. Davis moved the team back to Oakland when he got a new and favorable stadium deal.

Current owner Mark Davis wants to get the best stadium he can for his team, and that almost certainly involves yet another move for the team.

Despite the previous and potentially future shifts, Raiders fans are among the most loyal and supportive in the league. They have adopted the rogue identity that Al Davis nurtured for his team, and fans often dress in wild and intimidating gear for the team's home games.

The Raiders have suffered through 10 losing seasons in the last 12 years, but the 2015 Raiders have shown quite a bit of improvement with Derek Carr at quarterback and a crew of young and talented skill-position players.

No matter where the Raiders end up, they will undoubtedly have their supportive fans behind them. Those fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, as evidenced by this Reddit thread.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

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The traditions of the AFL are reflected in the Kansas City Chiefs. Former owner Lamar Hunt was the founder of that league when he was denied an NFL franchise, and his son Clark Hunt has kept the AFL memories alive in his run with the Chiefs.

Chiefs fans have tremendous pride in their team, even though they have not been back to the Super Bowl since earning a 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

The Chiefs also played in the historic first AFL-NFL Championship Game in January 1967 against the Green Bay Packers.

Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram's teams were notable for their innovation, but that has rarely been the case in the ensuing decades. The Chiefs have had success when they have been able to run the football and play hard-hitting defense.

Kansas City fans would love to see the team return to championship glory. When it had regular-season success in 1995, 1997 and 2003, it crashed and burned in the playoffs.

Chiefs fans tend to be far less cynical and more loyal than many fanbases around the league. However, a 3-5 start to the 2015 season has left the team's fans to bask in the Royals' World Series glory and dream about a miraculous turnaround in the second half of the year.

1. Denver Broncos

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The Denver Broncos have perhaps the best home-field advantage of any team in the NFL. In addition to the loud and supportive fans the team has at Sports Authority Field, playing in the mile-high altitude is taxing to visiting players.

Fans are often so loud in Denver that opposing quarterbacks have to go to a silent count so players don't miss out on the signals. That's a huge advantage for the Broncos.

That fan support may be even more important this year than it has been in the past because Peyton Manning and the offense are struggling. While the Broncos have an impressive 7-1 record, it's largely because of the play of the defense (ranked first in the NFL).

If the Broncos are going to be successful this year, the defense will almost certainly carry them. That means that the home fans must continue to make it difficult for visitors to function when they come to Denver.

Broncos fans can be quite critical of their players when they make key mistakes. They show their disapproval in social media and talk-radio but not in the stadium on game days.