The AFC West has been decided after Week 14. For the ninth straight season, the Kansas City Chiefs are division champs. It is the second-longest run of consecutive division titles in NFL history, as mentioned by Chiefs team reporter Matt McMullen. But in the end, it was an awkward finish after a pretty good start for the Chiefs.
The Chargers and the Broncos are now tied at 8-5. Each of these squads are tied with the Baltimore Ravens, though Baltimore has the head-to-head nod over each of LA and Denver. And very soon, we will see the final meeting of the Chargers and the Broncos from Los Angeles. Which team can possibly gain a slight edge over the other from the pair of wild card hopefuls?
Meanwhile, the Raiders have stayed consistent. That is true about their losing streak being extended, which now sits at nine games. That was also true about their offensive performance. It was another up-and-down game for the silver and black when possessing the pigskin.
How do the AFC West teams stack up entering Week 15? Here are where things stand in our latest power rankings around the division.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Another close game for the Chiefs? A funny bounce going Kansas City's way, yet again? For all of the jokes that have come about surrounding this year's finishes, the Chiefs are still in great position to secure the AFC's number-one seed. A Bills' loss against the Rams certainly helped on Sunday. But also, there were some more positive glimpses of what Kansas City could truly be, when firing on all cylinders.
If you take the third quarter away, the Chiefs played a dazzling game on defense. Pressure finally got home, and KC truly put a beating on Justin Herbert. In the end, the Chiefs are still arguably better now than they were last year at this point, if you are looking at their inconsistencies. If they clinch the one seed soon, it will be fascinating to see how they manage certain pieces late in the regular season.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The difference between the Chargers and the Broncos is extremely thin. With some issues as a pass offense early, it seemed like Los Angeles was going to be forced to get away from their bread and butter of pounding the rock. Yet, they came out and ran it down the Chiefs' throat in that third quarter. Critical plays on third down is an area where the Chargers just did not execute enough.
If you want to nitpick about this Bolts team, pointing to their record against teams with winning records is intriguing. Los Angeles could very well go on the road and win as a wild card in someone else's building come playoff time. But if they fail to prove themselves further against good competition, they could drop down these rankings.
3. Denver Broncos
The Broncos got to sit back and relax during their late bye week this week. Denver obviously has some vital games left to determine if they end their playoff drought. Hosting Indianapolis next week will likely determine if the Colts stay alive for a playoff chance. But, division games like the Chargers and the Chiefs will be no slouch, either.
Denver has scored 29 points or more in three straight games. As rookie Bo Nix has settled in, how does he fare against some veteran-led defenses in the last month of the year? His outings could easily make or break the Broncos' chances.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders may have found a diamond in the rough at running back in Sincere McCormick. Moreover, Michael Mayer had a tremendous day, taking a bit of pressure off of Brock Bowers. If these young offensive weapons can continue to come together, that could set Las Vegas up for a solid rebirth next season. That does not suggest that they will be playoff-bound. But with a possible new quarterback coming in, any addition at signal caller will have some competent pieces to work with.
With the Jaguars beating the Titans, the Raiders would currently hold the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, if the season ended today. And with their losing streak still not being broken, there is a very solid chance that Las Vegas can stick in the top three of the draft order. If they do not end up with the top spot, the Raiders may still be determined to select a new passer.