Why Carson Palmer Is the Best QB in the AFC West

Based on this year's results, yes: Carson Palmer is the best signal caller in the AFC West.

Rivers is probably playing with some kind of injury that we don't know about, but Palmer is clearly playing better than him this year. Neither the Chiefs nor Broncos quarterbacks are playing at a level anywhere near Palmer and Rivers, so we can just count them out of the conversation now.

Palmer has appeared to regain a lot of his arm strength and is throwing the ball with much more precision and conviction than he has in a very long time. He has made a handful of throws that few other players could make. What is most impressive is how quickly Palmer has picked up the Raider offense and has gotten in-sync with his receivers. 

Raider fans have to be excited how potent their offense can be when Darren McFadden gets back into the lineup.

The reasons for Palmer's rebirth are unclear—maybe he was playing hurt in Cincinnati, or maybe his supporting cast was just not getting it done. Perhaps just being reunited with Hue Jackson has given Palmer new life. The bottom line is that trade for Palmer may just have been the "greatest trade in football."

If Rivers can get hot again, this conversation will be open for debate. But Palmer is not making the crucial mistakes that Rivers is making that have cost his team games, and it could prove to be the difference between making the playoffs and spending yet another year on the couch come January.