Chiefs are best team in NFL’s best division

Before we enter #HotTake territory, allow me to clarify that the Chiefs are not the best team in the NFL, or even in the AFC.

But it’s pretty much indisputable that the AFC West is the best division in the league, and it’s becoming just as clear that the Chiefs are the best team in that division. In a division where only one team has more than 2 losses through 8 weeks, the Chiefs stand apart.

I’m not just saying that because the Chiefs have the most complete roster in the league – one that lacks any major holes and isn’t anything less than above-average at pretty much everything. I’m not even just saying it because rookies like Tyreek Hill and Chris Jones have just scratched the surface of their potential, and Justin Houston is returning soon. I’m saying that because even at a combined 12-4, the Raiders and Broncos don’t scare me – at all.

I mean, I know I should probably be at least a little afraid of a team that’s won the division 5 years in a row – and the Broncos haven’t won less than 12 games in 4 years, either. But here’s my counterpoint: Trevor Siemian. He’s been at the helm of an offense that’s 27th both overall and passing in yards per game. And that’s against a schedule that’s included some of the league’s worst defenses. The running game isn’t much better, averaging less than 4 yards per carry and having no runs of more than 28 yards. Overall, they’re 5-1 against teams with 3 or fewer wins, and 1-1 against teams that at least approach mediocrity.

The Raiders? They’ve played almost exclusively against bad teams, have lost both of their games against quality opponents, and have almost nothing except quality opponents left. They’re 6-0 against teams that are a combined 18-26, and 0-2 in other games. Their remaining opponents are a combined 34-28. They have a -8 scoring differential against teams that are 1 game under .500 or better. Their defense sucks. Even at 6-2, they’ll be very, very lucky if they make the playoffs.

The Chargers actually seem like a more complete team than either of the other 2, but they’re already in a hole, and they have the worst coach in the division – one of the worst in the entire league, for that matter. Philip Rivers and Melvin Gordon will at least make them interesting every week, but beyond that, I’m not sure they’ve got enough time in the second half of the season to erase the large deficit they already have in the race for the division title.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have beaten (in 3 consecutive weeks) 3 of the best offenses (and QBs) the league has to offer. They’ve held these great opposing offenses to significantly less than their season average in points. They’ve yet to win a game by less than a TD, while the Raiders have won half of their games by a FG or less. The Broncos have a much better scoring margin, but in every game they’ve played against a team that’s even arguably a contender, they’ve either lost, or won by less than a FG. The one possible exception would be the Texans, but if you’re buying an offense with Brock Osweiler at QB, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

As it stands right now, it’s totally reasonable to think about the Chiefs finishing the season 12-4. The only remaining games in which they would even possibly be underdogs are at Atlanta, and at Denver. Even if they lose both, 12-4 would still be very, very doable. If they win one of those two games? 13-3 isn’t a ridiculous notion.

So let everybody else blather on endlessly about which players are elite, which teams are great, and whether someone is more elite or great than someone else. Because the Chiefs are the best team in the best division in football – and that doesn’t suck.