AFC West: 5 reasons Chiefs will win division

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Oct 16, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) celebrates after a play against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders 26-10. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Chiefs control their destiny

This is easily the most important of the bunch. After beating the Raiders, the Chiefs are now 2-0 in the AFC West. Nobody else in the division has a clean sheet within the West, giving Kansas City a huge leg up in the race.

While Kansas City is technically a half-game behind both Oakland and Denver, consider the following. If the Chiefs simply beat the Raiders at home, split with the Broncos and beat a Chargers team in Week 17 with nothing to play for, Kansas City will hold every tiebreaker within the division.

Next: Chiefs grades vs. Raiders

If that happens, the Chiefs will be very hard to beat out. Kansas City has other games on the schedule where they will be universally picked to win, including this weekend. Should the Chiefs go 3-1 the rest of the way within the West, it’s highly probable they reach 11 wins or so.

With that win total, the Raiders would only be able to lose one more game outside their visit to Arrowhead. Denver would only be afforded a single loss as well. Considering the schedules that both teams face (including two games against each other), good luck.

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