NFL Standings, Week 5: Chiefs keep AFC West lead
After Week 5 of the NFL season, what do the standings look like in the AFC and AFC West? Where do the KC Chiefs stack up in the conference and division?
The NFL has now completed the first five weeks of the regular season and the playoff picture still has a lot of questions There will still be a lot of changes in the final 12 weeks but the high majority of teams in the AFC are still technically within striking distance for a playoff spot.
Week 5 featured seven games involving two AFC teams, including five games between divisional foes, while two members of the AFC lined up against NFC teams. Three teams in the conference are 3-1, five teams are below 0.500, but eight of the sixteen AFC teams are 2-2 heading into this week.
On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted their arch-rival Las Vegas Raiders. The Denver Broncos saw Matt Ryan and the Indianapolis Colts come to town for a Thursday Night clash. The Los Angeles Chargers went on the road to northern Ohio to play the Cleveland Browns.
Here is how the AFC West standings look after Week 5:
. Kansas City Chiefs. 1. team. 124. . 4-1
. 3-2. . Los Angeles Chargers. 2. team. 13
45. . 2-3. . Denver Broncos. 3. team
4. team. 28. . 1-4. . Las Vegas Raiders
The Broncos were defeated by the Colts in what might be the worst football game of the year. The Chargers defeated the Browns after a missed last-minute Field Goal. The Chiefs beat the Raiders despite being down 17-0.
According to FiveThirtyEight (QB Adjusted), before Week 5, the Chiefs were the clear favorites to win the AFC West with a 70% chance to win the division. The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders followed at 13%, 12%, and 5%, respectively. After Monday, the Chiefs are still the clear favorites at 76%, followed by the Chargers at 16%, the Broncos at 5%, and finally the Raiders at 2%.
The Chiefs are still the favorites in the AFC West but the end of the regular season is still a long way away. The Chargers will still be feisty, the Broncos will get better on offense, and every remaining game for the Raiders will be like a Game 7. If the Chiefs can follow up Monday’s win with a victory against Buffalo, the Chiefs will be a lot closer to earning home-field advantage in the AFC.