The season moved fast, and now the AFC West is nearly out of runway. With one week left in the regular season, there is still enough division action to reshuffle the pecking order. Here is where each team stands in our divisional power rankings heading into the finale.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Trending: Down
Without Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers, the Raiders look like a roster stripped to the studs. They were overwhelmed by a New York Giants team that has struggled all season and has every incentive to keep losing.
Still, this may be the outcome many in Raider Nation can live with. One more defeat, and Las Vegas is effectively on the clock.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Trending: Steady
Standing in the Raiders’ way this week is a Kansas City Chiefs team with little incentive—and limited ability—to win right now. Kansas City still managed to hang around Denver behind third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun, though that may have said more about the Broncos than the Chiefs.
Either way, the stakes are real for Kansas City, too. With the way this season has unraveled, a loss to Las Vegas would push the Chiefs closer to a top-10 pick.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Trending: Down
Despite all the injuries, the Chargers are somehow locked into a playoff spot. However, they blew their chance at playing for the divisional crown against Denver this week after losing to the Texans. It still feels as though Los Angeles is simply incapable of beating good teams… unless that team beats itself like the Eagles. We’ll see how it plays out in the postseason.
1. Denver Broncos
Trending: Steady
For all of Denver’s wins, the Broncos still do not look like a heavyweight. They may be the least imposing 13-3 team in recent memory, yet they are one victory from clinching the AFC’s top seed.
That disconnect is hard to ignore. If Denver is laboring to put away the Chiefs, Giants and Raiders, it is fair to question whether it can win three straight in January against teams like the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images