2026 NFL Divisional Previews | AFC West: Can KC Shake it Off?
Written by: Varun Sharma
Last Update: Tue Aug 04, 2026, 8:43 pm ET
Read Time: 12 minutes
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With just two days left till the Hall of Fame Game, it felt like the perfect time to start our deep dive into each NFL Division. We'll be talking about key additions, key departures, coaching hires and more; for each division and each team.
After nine years of dominance atop the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs finally lost their hold on the division. Injuries plagued their season, but this league waits for no one. The Denver Broncos defense dominated the entire league last year and it's why they took home their first divisional crown since Peyton Manning.
This year the AFC West's gotten a lot better and that's applies to all four teams in the division. Let's jump right into the AFC West and talk about who my favorite is to win the division.
Odds to Win the AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs (+175)
- Los Angeles Chargers (+185)
- Denver Broncos (+210)
- Las Vegas Raiders (+1400)
Best Bets in the AFC West
- Kansas City to win the AFC West (+175)
- Denver Broncos o9.5 Wins (-130)
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Kansas City Chiefs
Offense
The Kansas City Chiefs made a huge splash in free agency this year, signing Kenneth Walker, the reigning Super Bowl MVP; to a 3-year $43 million deal. Walker becomes the newest running back to take over this Kansas City backfield and expectations are incredibly high on day one.
Now can we take a second and talk about how good Patrick Mahomes has looked in training camp? Mahomes comes into this year after suffering a torn ACL in Week 15 of last year; complicated by an additional injury to the LCL on the same knee.
Just 223 days removed from his devastating injury, Patrick Mahomes was a full participant on the first day of training camp. Mahomes looks comfortable, he looks mobile and most of all; he looks ready.
Patty went 6-8 last year as a starter, he threw 22 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and for the first time in his career as a starter; finished with a QB rating under 90. Last year was the first time since he was drafted in 2017, that the Chiefs lost the division.
Rashee Rice played in just eight total games, Travis Kelce had his third straight season under 1000 receiving yards and their run game was bottom-10 in the NFL. Despite all the issues on offense, this Kansas City defense was elite.
Defense
The Chiefs gave up 19.3 points per game last year (6th) and despite a few key departures this offseason, look just as good going into this season.
The Trent McDuffie trade was unexpected, but the Chiefs got four picks in return; three of which came in this year's draft. Kansas City used their own first round pick on Mansoor Delane; an All-American CB out of LSU and then used the Rams' first round pick to draft DT Peter Woods out of Clemson.
The Chiefs used most of this year's draft to bolster their defense, additionally bringing in DE R. Mason Thomas (Oklahoma) and Jadon Canady at safety (Oregon).
Not only did they draft guys, but the Chiefs brought in a couple vets like Alohi Gillman at safety, Kaiir Elam at CB and even Khyiris Tonga at DT.
Kansas City is ready to take back top spot in the AFC West and I'll be riding along all season.
Best Bet: Kansas City to Win the AFC West (+175)
Projected Win Total
- Over 10.5 Wins (+120)
- Under 10.5 Wins (-150)
Additions
- Kenneth Walker (RB)
- Alohi Gilman (S)
- Khyiris Tonga (DT)
- Kader Kohou (CB)
- Kaiir Elam (CB)
- Justin Fields (QB)
- Emari Demarcado
Subtractions
- Trent McDuffie (CB)
- Isaiah Pacheco (RB)
- Jaylen Watson (CB)
- Leo Chenal (LB)
Denver Broncos
Offense
The Denver Broncos have one of the scariest defenses in the entire NFL and there's a reason this team hangs their hat on defense. That being said, you still need to score points to win an NFL game and that's where Bo Nix and this Broncos offense comes in.
The Broncos were one game away from the Super Bowl last year and if not for a broken ankle for Box Nix, they probably win the AFC Championship Game.
Jarrett Stidham would start the AFC Championship game, complete just 55% of his passes and turn the ball over twice. The New England Patriots punched their ticket to the Super Bowl with a 10-7 win and the Broncos went into the off-season.
Denver wasted no time, trading for Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins; adding another weapon to this already stacked receiver room. Nix got surgery, completed rehab and now he's back on the field and a full participant at training camp.
The Broncos also re-signed fan favorite J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins ran for 772 yards last year in a split backfield with RJ Harvey and he did that in just 10 games. He was among the league's leading rushers at the time of his foot fracture and now he's back ready to pick up where he left off.
Let's take a second and talk about this receiving room now. Top dog in Denver is Courtland Sutton. He's coming off back to back 1,000-yard seasons, he's caught 15 touchdowns over the last two years with Nix under center and at this point in his career; he's hungry for the postseason.
Add to that a guy like Jaylen Waddle. Waddle's going into his sixth year in the league, he's coming of back to back sub-1,000 yard seasons and he's been largely held out of the endzone. He's played five years in the NFL, recording 1,000 yards in the first three years.
The Dolphins have been bad for a while and Waddle was in need of a fresh start. This is the perfect place to do it.
Defense
Now let's talk about the meat/potatoes of this Broncos team, the defense. Denver ranked 3rd in points allowed last year, 2nd in yards allowed, 1st in yards per play and had a top three run defense.
The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks last year with 68 but they finised the year with just 14 takeaways and a negative (-3) turnover differential. Despite that, the team just did not give up points.
Denver held opponents to a 44% redzone scoring percentage (3rd) and did a great job of getting off the field on third down; allowing just a 36% third down conversion rate.
This defense did lose John Franklin-Meyers to the Seattle Seahawks and while it's never easy to lose your third leading pass-rusher; the Broncos have the bodies to do it.
Nik Bonito and Johnathan Cooper combined for 22 of the team's 68 sacks, while 10 total players on the Broncos had 3+ sacks last year; 9 of whom are still on the team.
Not only are most of the players back, but the Maestro of Mayhem, Vance Jones, is still running this defense. After interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs, Jones is back and ready to show why he deserves a shot at his own team.
The Broncos are built to compete and with a defense this good; they'll have a chance to win every single week.
Projected Win Total
- Over 9.5 Wins (-130)
- Under 9.5 Wins (+100)
Best Bet: Over 9.5 Wins (-130)
Additions
- Jaylen Waddle (WR)
- Tycen Anderson (S)
Subtractions
- John Franklin-Meyers (DE)
- P.J. Locke (S)
- Dre Greenlaw (LB)
Los Angeles Chargers
Offense
The more I look at this division, the more it's beginning to look like a dog fight. The Los Angeles Chargers come into this year with high expectations and even higher hopes.
The Chargers won 11 games last year, the defense was great; but they couldn't keep their superstar quarterback upright. Justin Herbert was sacked 60 times last year, second only to Drake Maye of the Patriots.
In total, Herbert lost 340 total yards due to sacks and that's something you just can't do if you hope to have an elite offense. The Chargers did bring in David Njoku as well Keaton Mitchell to help bolster this offense, but the key in Los Angeles is the offensive line.
Last year in games with Joe Alt healthy, the Chargers went 5-1 and the singular loss was a game in which Alt left due to injury. In these six games, Herbert completed 65% of his passes, averaged 257 pass yards per game and threw 12 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.
In the 10 games without Alt, Herbert averaged jus 218.7 pass yards per game, he threw just 14 touchdowns and had 8 interceptions. Alt's back and a full participant at training camp. In addition to Alt, the Chargers brought in two new starters to help protect their star.
The Chargers signed Tyler Biadasz to take over at the center spot and brought in Cole Strange to play guard right next to Alt on the right side of that OL.
Defense
The Chargers were 9th in points allowed last year, 5th in yards allowed and 4th in pass yards allowed. What was a really bad secondary in 2024, completely turned it around in 2025. The defense finished with the 10th most sacks on the year and gave up the 2nd fewest first downs on the year.
This defense had the 8th most takeaways on the year, finishing with 19 interceptions and 4 fumble recoveries. The problem is they finished as a +2 in turnover differential and that was mainly due to Herbert's 15 turnovers.
The Chargers did lose their second leading pass rusher, Odafe Oweh, to the Tennessee Titans; but used their first pick in this year's draft on Akheem Mesidor, DE out of Miami. While he may not fill that role immediately, this Chargers team is still built to compete.
The only issue I see with this Chargers' defense is the departure of their defensive coordinator; Jesse Minter. Minter ran this defense over the last two years and now he's got his very own team in Baltimore.
The Chargers replaced Minter with Chris O'Leary, a guy with just one year of NFL experience. While that one year did come as the safeties coach for this same team, he's coming into this year after a year as DC for Western Michigan.
The new coordinator doesn't give me a ton of confidence and it's one of the reason's I'm just not as high on the Chargers going into this year.
Projected Win Total
- Over 9.5 Wins (-145)
- Under 9.5 Wins (+115)
Lean: Under 9.5 Wins (+115)
Additions
- Tyler Biadasz (C)
- Cole Strange (OL)
- David Njoku (TE)
- Nick Cross (S)
- Keaton Mitchell (RB)
Subtractions
- Odafe Oweh (DE)
- Zion Johnson (OL)
- Benjamin St.-Juste (CB)
- Otito Ogbonnia (DT)
Las Vegas Raiders
Offense
Lastly, the Las Vegas Raiders; the last place finisher in this AFC West in back to back years now.
The Raiders are brand new team this year. They've got the shiny new coach in Klint Kubiak. They've got the #1 overall draft pick from this year's draft and they went out in free agency with their checkbook wide open.
First thing we need to talk about is this quarterback situation in Vegas. The Raiders just drafted Fernando Mendoza #1 overall and in the very same off-season, signed Kirk Cousins to a 2-year deal.
The Raiders have made it clear, Kirk is their current QB1 and he's going to be the starter for Week 1; possibly the entire season. Personally, I don't buy it.
The team handed out nearly $300 million in new contracts and while not all of it's guaranteed, they still spent more money during free agency than any of the other 32 franchises.
The team's biggest signing was free agent C, Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum left Baltimore to sign a 3-year $81 million deal with the Raiders. The kid's just 26-years old, but he's a 3x Pro Bowler and has been a key piece of the Ravens' offensive line since he was drafted in 2022.
Vegas is investing in their QB. The best way to do that is to protect him and ensure he's got weapons to throw to.
The Raiders come into this season with the best TE in the league, Brock Bowers. They've got Ashton Jeanty in year two and now they've got the dynamic offensive mind needed to bring it all together.
Defense
Most of the money the Raiders spent during free agency came on the defensive side. Quay Walker comes over from Green Bay, as does Nakobe Dean from Philadelphia. The two former Georgia Bulldogs will be reunited and once again playing on the same side.
Add to that a guy like Kwity Paye. Someone who had a down year with just 4 sacks last year; but 8+ sacks in the two years prior.
The Maxx Crosby trade fell through, but that might be a blessing in disguise. Crosby belongs in Silver/Black and with him on the field, this defense looks scary.
Las Vegas had eight picks in this year's draft and three of the first five were used to take defensive players.
The Raiders added Treydan Stukes in the 2nd round, a CB out of Kansas State; and Keyron Crawford, a DE out of SMU. In the 4th round they added Jermond McCoy (CB) out of Tennessee and the emphasis on defense was clear from the start.
On the sidelines for this defense will be Rob Leonard. Leonard's got 13 years of experience in the NFL, 3 of which came here in Vegas. However, this will be his first time running an entire defense.
The Raiders opened up the checkbook, added a ton of talent and it remains to see if it pays off. This might not be their year, but it's a good time to be a Raiders' fan.
Projected Win Total
- Over 5.5 Wins (-145)
- Under 5.5 Wins (+115)
Additions
- Kirk Cousins (QB)
- Tyler Linderbam (C)
- Quay Walker (LB)
- Nakobe Dean (LB)
- Kwity Paye (DE)
Subtractions
- Geno Smith (QB)
- Alexander Mattison (RB)
- Robert Spillane (LB)
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