Entering the 2025-26 NFL season, several division races project to be contested and exciting. Even the ones that aren’t still have some sort of redeeming quality. Take the AFC West, for example. Despite the Kansas City Chiefs dominating the division for years, every offseason features plenty of chatter regarding when that run will end.
This summer, the West is once again shaping up to be formidable. In his ranking of all eight divisions, Eric Edholm of NFL Media has it cracking the top three. Finishing just behind the NFC North and AFC North, the AFC West offers high drama that should unfold over the next several months.
Chiefs Have ‘Major Credibility’ Despite Super Bowl LIX Loss
Edholm is open to the AFC West being ahead of the AFC North, and the Chiefs have a lot to do with it. Focusing on the “firepower” of the division, Edholm seems to believe the best still resides in Kansas City.
“If this is something of a ‘last dance’ season in Kansas City, with franchise icon Travis Kelce discussing retirement this offseason, then we could see another championship run from Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the boys,” Edholm wrote. “The Chiefs’ humiliating loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX — after they logged a slew of narrow regular-season victories — has some questioning their chances, but the track record earns this team major credibility.”
It’s hard to pick anyone other than the Chiefs to win the West. They’ve done it every year dating back to 2016-17, after all. That includes two seasons in which Mahomes was either still in college or sitting on the bench. Since he took over as the starter, Kansas City has kicked it up a notch.
Only once has an AFC West team finished in a tie with the Mahomes-led Chiefs. It happened back in 2018, when the Los Angeles Chargers matched their 12-4 record. Reid’s group losing in the aforementioned Super Bowl isn’t changing anyone’s 2025 outlook. The Chiefs are the best bets in the division.
Rest of AFC West Attempting to Catch Kansas City Slipping
With that said, the remaining AFC West foes do seem promising. Edholm is showing the Chargers and the Denver Broncos, who made the playoffs last season, some love.
“Can the Broncos and Chargers take the proverbial next steps?” Edholm asked. “Denver boasts a top-five defense, which could be even better than last season’s unit, plus Bo Nix and an emerging offense. The Chargers can’t be overlooked with Jim Harbaugh back in the saddle and Justin Herbert squarely in his prime, but some defensive regression might be felt with the pass rush and in the secondary.”
The team that may have improved the most is the Las Vegas Raiders. They took a step back from 8-9 in 2023 to 4-13 in 2024, but something like the former record seems realistic for 2025. Having a real quarterback and head coach entrenched might make a massive difference.
“The Raiders have generated a little buzz this offseason and figure to be far more competitive this fall,” Edholm wrote. “Pete Carroll can light a fire under this group, with Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty leading a remade offense, but the defense must show major improvement.”
Franchises don’t win the division nine times in a row by accident, though. The Chiefs competitors might give them a run for their money, sure. But until proven otherwise, there’s no reason to not choose them to come out on top.
