Ranking the AFC West from bottom to top
The AFC West no longer has an obvious winner every season. For years, the Kansas City Chiefs dominated the division, and it was never even close. Now, the Chiefs’ dynasty is beginning to fade, as evidenced by the team missing the playoffs last year. Now you have four teams on vastly different timelines who all have a realistic shot of winning the division. Let’s rank the AFC West the only way that makes sense. Bottom to top.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Could they end up somewhere other than the bottom? Stranger things have happened.
The Raiders are finally starting to look like a team with direction instead of a team throwing darts in the dark. No.1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will hold his own, make some plays, take some lumps, and give the Raiders something to build on. But he will not set the world on fire.
This roster still feels like it is missing a few too many pieces. They will be competitive, but they are not good enough yet.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
This one will spark some controversy.
The Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes, which means they are never completely out of it. But everything around him does not feel the same. Last year, it seemed like defenses were able to figure him out.
And then there’s Travis Kelce.
Nobody loses the battle to “Father Time.” Kelce is still a productive and reliable tight end, but he is not the contributor that he once was. The connection between him and Mahomes is no longer a guarantee, and that hurts the offense.
Will they stack up wins? Of course. They may even finish with a better record than last year. But the AFC West will be too competitive, and they will narrowly miss the playoffs.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos won the division last year, and somehow it still felt a little off.
We all watched it happen, but it was like they came out of left field. Like everything broke exactly right at the perfect time.
Bo Nix is the variable that stands out. He showed enough to get people excited, but the ankle injury still lingers in the background. Quarterbacks coming off that kind of issue may be medically cleared, but do not always produce to the level they were before.
The concern is if he sees a regression.
The Broncos are still a good team, too solid to completely fall apart. They will creep into the playoffs but will be the victim of a quick exit.
1. Los Angeles Chargers
This is the pick that would have gotten laughed at not too long ago.
The Chargers are hungry to advance in the postseason. And more importantly, they have the guy to make it happen in Justin Herbert.
Jim Harbaugh’s system will finally settle in. Herbert will put up big numbers and be the guy everyone expected him to be when he was drafted.
The roster around him is better, and the coaching staff is better with the addition of Mike McDaniel.
They are not just winning the division.
They are getting Herbert his first playoff win, too.
The AFC West finally feels up for grabs
Ranking the AFC West is no longer as easy as it used to be. This division is not about one team anymore. It is about timing.
The Raiders are early. The Chiefs are slipping. The Broncos are trying to hold on. And the Chargers? They might have picked the perfect moment to finally take it.
And if that is the case, the rest of the AFC West is about to spend the season playing catch-up.
