After a huge matchup between the top two teams in the division, we’re left wondering whether this will be another tight race for the AFC West crown.
Here’s how this past week’s action shook up our power rankings.
4. The Los Angeles Chargers
Trending: Down
We are quickly running out of ways to describe how bad the Chargers are, but one stat paints a pretty good picture. Los Angeles has given up 22 points or more in every game this season. Meanwhile, its offense has reached that number only once, scoring 23 points against Seattle in Week 4. Even if the defense turned in its best game every week, the Chargers would still be 1-6.
Somehow, nobody has been fired or benched, and no one’s seat seems especially hot. Everyone continues to defend offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. There is also very little chatter about Jim Harbaugh being on his way out, likely because of his contract. The same goes for quarterback Justin Herbert, who is clearly struggling in ways that go beyond coaching. At this rate, the Chargers are hurtling toward the No. 1 overall pick, which could make for a very interesting offseason.
Next up, a team that seems determined to play its way out of a top draft pick…
3. The Las Vegas Raiders
Trending: Steady
The Raiders finally snapped their losing streak, but a close win over the Jets won’t help them beat the allegations that they are frauds. The offense continues to look great. Despite glaring flaws in the trenches, none of it matters when you have the best offensive player in football in Brock Bowers. The problem is a defense that is hot garbage.
Las Vegas has now given up more than 30 points in five consecutive games, and it ranks second-worst in the league in points allowed per game. You cannot be a serious team while being that terrible on one side of the ball. Yet at 4-4, the Raiders remain very much in playoff contention. Something has to change soon if they want to stay in the mix.
That said, some deeply flawed teams never change, and it works out anyway…
2. The Denver Broncos
Trending: Up
At some point, we have to stop calling the Broncos’ formula for winning unsustainable. After yet another comeback win, Denver is 6-2 and in first place in the division. More important, the Broncos have climbed the AFC West ladder without changing anything. They continue to fall behind early in games, and Bo Nix has not played much better than he did in his first few games in the league. Nothing has changed since Denver’s improbable 2025 run, yet the Broncos look like they have a strong chance to win a second consecutive AFC West title.
All of that may be true, but this team still does not pass the eye test. One cannot watch these games and believe this offense will produce enough to win a Super Bowl. Either Nix has to be better or the Broncos need to do more to support him. There is no evidence that the former will ever happen, but there is some hope for the latter. Denver might finally have a lead back in rookie Jonah Coleman. If he can transform the running game into a force that helps this team control games, the rest of the league will need to watch out.
Next up, a team whose stranglehold on the top spot may be slipping…
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1. The Kansas City Chiefs
Trending: Down
The Chiefs may be “back” this season, but this is not your older sibling’s Chiefs team. Kansas City built a big lead against Denver but could not put the Broncos away because of a lack of firepower. With Tyquan Thornton out, Patrick Mahomes has no reliable deep threats, which has pushed the Chiefs toward a modernized West Coast offense that leans heavily on the run game.
Speaking of being back, Andy Reid may be revisiting his old game-management issues. Until the offense heats up, the Chiefs cannot afford for Reid to make mistakes like calling a pass on third-and-2 in opposing territory while trying to close out a game. Kansas City has about three more “cupcake games” to figure things out before the schedule gets very tough, very quickly.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images