AFC West Outlook After Six Games

Denver Broncos (5-1)

ESPN preseason strength of schedule rank: 2

Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) signals to the sidelines in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Remaining schedule: Chargers, @Patriots, @Raiders, @Rams, Dolphins, @Chiefs, Bills, @Chargers, @Bengals, Raiders.

Since their BYE week, the Broncos have been undefeated and won each game by at least 14 points. Some of their more winnable games are still ahead of them, including St. Louis, Buffalo, and Oakland twice. The Broncos are likely to be favored in every game left on their schedule, and will be difficult to unseat from the top spot in the division.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be done though. The good news for Chiefs fans is that Denver looked very mortal in the three games preceding their BYE. All three games were decided by a touchdown or less, including eking out a win over the Chiefs after allowing KC to drive all the way to the Denver 2 yard line.

Denver has also had the comfort of being at home for most of their games thus far. They have only left the Mile High City on two occasions: a week three loss to the Seahawks, and a week six win over the Jets. Of the five most difficult games they have left (Chiefs, Patriots, Bengals, and Chargers twice), four will be on the road.

So while they are certainly still the favorite for the West, don’t pencil the Broncos in as division champs just yet.