The end is in sight. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the hierarchy within the AFC West has largely taken shape, though there is still room for movement. Here is how each team is trending in this week’s power rankings.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Trending: Up(?!)
The Raiders showed real signs of life in their loss to the Houston Texans, which might be the best-case scenario for the organization at this stage. Las Vegas needs its young players to flash enough progress to build around, but it also benefits from staying in the mix for the top pick in the draft.
The concern is that last week’s performance might have been strong enough to give the Raiders a chance to defeat the Giants. A victory would likely eliminate them from contention for the No. 1 draft pick.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Trending: Down
For the second straight week, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost a quarterback to a torn ACL. It’s difficult to imagine a worse stretch for this perennial championship contender. Still, the roster was already deeply flawed, and now the team must limp to the finish line with a third-string quarterback.
The irony is that this downturn may actually enable the Chiefs to secure a spot in the top 10 of the draft, creating an opportunity to add another elite offensive weapon for Patrick Mahomes upon his return.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Trending: Up
A dominant win over the Dallas Cowboys pulled the Los Angeles Chargers within a game of the Denver Broncos in the AFC West race after Denver’s loss to Jacksonville. If Los Angeles wins out, including a Week 18 matchup with Denver, it will clinch the division title.
The offensive line remains banged up, but the rest of the roster is getting healthy and finding its rhythm at the right time. Jim Harbaugh’s team looks increasingly like a difficult postseason matchup for anyone.
1. Denver Broncos
Trending: Down
The Denver defense finally showed some mortality, surrendering 34 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That is a troubling development for a unit whose dominance has been central to the Broncos’ success all season.
Sean Payton will hope it was a one-off. If not, Denver may be forced to lean on Bo Nix to steal multiple road wins in the postseason. That is a scenario the Broncos would prefer to avoid.
*Top Photo: Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images