Three weeks into the NFL season, the AFC West is off to an electric start. The division is a combined 6-2 in non-divisional games, and both losses belong to the same team. That team also happens to kick off this week’s rankings.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
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For a minute there, it looked like the Chargers were finally going to turn things around. Bills quarterback Josh Allen did everything in his power to give this one away, but the Chargers simply refused to win. On paper, a one-score road loss to Buffalo is a perfectly respectable result. The way this one went down, however, leaves no room for moral victories.
After starting 0-2, Los Angeles cannot afford to miss out on a cheap win. Even an unexpected victory would have been welcome, but the Chargers haven’t won the easy ones, either. Given how poorly this team has played, one has to wonder how long the Bolts will wait for their first win of the season. It is unlikely to come this week, when they visit the defending Super Bowl champions in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC West continues to pull away.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
Trending: Up
At this point, the Raiders’ start can no longer be labeled a fluke. In an absolute banger of a game, the Silver and Black held off a surprisingly good Saints team. The Raiders continue to look better each week, and a big part of that improvement was the return of Brock Bowers. With the offense running at full power, Las Vegas is suddenly surging.
That said, it is too early to move this team up in the rankings. The defense looked fairly beatable in New Orleans, and this is still an offense led by an aging Kirk Cousins. Las Vegas’ 3-0 start is impressive, but its three opponents have one win combined this season. The Raiders get their first real test of the year this week, when the Chiefs come to town.
A strong showing in that game could push them past our next team.
2. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos continue to be the physical embodiment of the “they had us in the first half” meme. After digging a 16-0 hole in the first half, Bo Nix and company came roaring back in the second to steal a 30-26 win over the Rams. It may not look pretty, but you cannot argue with the results. Denver is now 2-1, with both wins coming over teams that made the playoffs last year and its sole loss coming against a scary Chiefs team.
It is understandable to think the Broncos cannot possibly keep this up, but what if they can? This “tale of two halves” routine has been working for over a year now. Until the wheels fully come off, we just have to treat Denver as a good team that likes to live on the edge. They might not want to give the 49ers a two-score head start this week, though.
Finally, there goes that bad man again.
Related: 3-0 Raiders have a new problem nobody saw coming
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Trending: Steady
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs continued their revenge tour with an easy win over the Dolphins. Although the game started out a little shaky, Kansas City dominated the second half. The 24-10 road win propels the Chiefs to 3-0.
Kansas City has been on cruise control since blowing out the Broncos in Week 1. Lesser opponents like the Colts and Dolphins have given the Chiefs a bit of a scare at times, but neither game ever felt truly in doubt. The Chiefs will have to bring their A game to Las Vegas this week as they battle the Raiders for the top spot in the division.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images