The Kansas City Chiefs have the best record in football since Patrick Mahomes took over in 2018 and have won the AFC West every year since 2016. However, that could be coming to an end in 2025. The division is loaded with high-end talent, as you’d be hard-pressed to find a better combination of coaching and quarterback talent in any division outside of the NFC North. While Mahomes and Reid have comfortably reigned over the West for the better part of a decade, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes the Los Angeles Chargers will win the division in 2025.
In a recent article projecting every team’s record, the NFL analyst writes that the Chargers will finish 13-4, while the Chiefs finish with a 12-5 record. Citing concerns about Kansas City’s inability to keep winning one-score games and questionable talent on offense, Moton believes the Chiefs could take a step back while Los Angeles thrives in Year 2 of the Jim Harbaugh Era.
Bleacher Report: Chargers Will Win AFC West, Finish With Better Record Than Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the best teams in the league last year, but they weren’t nearly as good as their 15-2 record would imply. Including the playoffs, the team posted an absurd 11-0 record in one-score games, which is wildly unsustainable. Over a large enough sample of time, every team goes roughly .500 in these types of games, so Kansas City played more like an 11- or 12-win team last year.
Additionally, Kansas City’s roster didn’t dramatically improve in the offseason, and there’s a case to be made that it’s worse now than it was a season ago. While first-round pick Josh Simmons should fix the left tackle issues, the team must find a guard to replace the departed Joe Thuney. Additionally, Travis Kelce isn’t getting any younger, and someone must step up as the go-to option in the passing attack, especially with Rashee Rice returning from a season-ending injury.
Improvements In Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs in what should have been a rebuilding year for the organization. Head coach Jim Harbaugh parted ways with high-priced veterans as he worked on building a team in his image. It ultimately worked, as Los Angeles earned a Wild Card spot but ultimately fell to the Houston Texans. Since then, the team has upgraded the offensive line, defensive line, and running game. While they could still use another pass-catching weapon, the future is bright for Los Angeles.
Ultimately, nobody knows if the Chiefs or Chargers will finish with a better record. However, assuming both quarterbacks stay healthy, these two teams should provide one of the most entertaining battles throughout the 18-week season.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
