Week one of the AFC West is over, and the Kansas City Chiefs are still the class of the division. However, the Los Angeles Chargers had a great showing against the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Denver Broncos proved they are on pace for the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The AFC West has not been very competitive over the last eight seasons. The Chiefs have won eight straight division titles and will likely push that to nine at the end of the year. However, they might get a strong push from the Los Angeles Chargers, a different team under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
So, how does the division rank after week one?
#1 – Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
There’s little doubt the Chiefs are the team to beat in the AFC West. After their 27-20 victory Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, they had the most brutal match within the division in week one and the best performance.
Even though Quarterback Lamar Jackson played the game of his life against the Chiefs, his absolute best wasn’t good enough to defeat Kansas City. His meltdown on the final three passes of the game reminded us that he could get you to the dance, but he’ll never be good enough to reach the dance floor.
Patrick Mahomes, who missed two easy touchdown passes of his own, made the plays necessary to remind the NFL, with one shiny new toy, Wide Receiver Xavier Worthy, to buckle up because Hollywood Brown is about to join the offense.
The real star of the game, though, was the Chief’s defense. KC’s top defender, Chris Jones, might have had six sacks if he had faced any other quarterback. He was dominant against a terrible Ravens offensive line; despite being triple-teamed at times, he’s playing at the highest level.
Add his performance to that of Linebacker Leo Chenel, who spied on Jackson the entire game, and there is no question this front seven is good enough to defend the AFC West.
Yes, they need to shore up some things in pass coverage, especially Nick Bolton, but you can’t ask defenders to cover guys for seven to nine seconds as they did against the Ravens—Jackson’s improvisation running in and out of the pocket, is a challenge for any defender.
Next up for the Chiefs is a week two contest against the 0-1 Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead.
#2 Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
I told anyone who would listen to me in the offseason that new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh would win a Super Bowl in Los Angeles. I don’t think it will be this season, but he had an awe-inspiring debut, thumping division rival Las Vegas 22-10.
Quarterback Justin Herbert and newcomer Running Back J.K. Dobbins had a big debut, rushing for 135 yards on just ten carries. The Chiefs had Dobbins in for a visit but elected not to sign him to back up Isiah Pacheco.
Though the point total was low, and the Chargers struggled in the red zone, they played Harbaugh football, controlling the clock on offense and playing tough defense. The Raiders aren’t a good team; more on them shortly.
Still, this wasn’t the same Chargers team we’ve seen in the past, and I credit Harbaugh for instilling confidence in this team that has been missing the last four years. In years past, everyone has picked the Chargers to dethrone the Chiefs.
With Herbert becoming a game manager, they could make the playoffs this season.
Next up for the Chargers is a road contest to Carolina to face the woeful Panthers.
#3 Las Vegas Raiders (0-1)
Head Coach Antonio Pierce is way over his head as an NFL Head coach. Late in the game, with his team trailing by five points, he passed up a fourth and short because he didn’t trust his offense to convert. Instead, he punted to the Chargers, and they marched down the field for an impressive touchdown drive, sealing their week one loss.
Still, the Raiders haven’t changed. They started a brawl last in the game with the Chargers, which shows that Pierce doesn’t have firm control of his team. He wants to instill the old Raider way, but that’s not the path to winning in the NFL. The Raves play the same way, but they have the coaching staff, players, and history to play physically before and after the play ends.
The Raiders made some great plays on both sides of the ball, and I admit their defense is talented, but Quarterback Gardner Minshew was terrible, and that’s a big problem for Las Vegas this season.
Next up for the Raiders is a road game against the Baltimore Ravens.
#4 Denver Broncos (0-1)
Rookie Quarterback Bo Nix made his NFL debut against the Seattle Seahawks, and it didn’t go well. The Broncos are all in on their young quarterback, but they’ll have plenty of growing pains watching him mature on the field this season.
Though he had an impressive fourth-quarter drive that made it a one-score deficit, he couldn’t sustain that success. The problem with Nix is that he has no clue how to read an NFL defense, and that’s to be expected.
To their credit, the Broncos will stick with the young signal caller, and to be honest, his defense, which was very good Sunday, kept them in the game. Head Coach Sean Payton has put all his eggs into the Nix skillet. Let’s see how it pans out.
One thing is certain, after week one, they will be in a dogfight with the Carolina Panthers for the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Up next, the Broncos face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.
