Whoa. That was quick. The NFL regular season has already reached its midpoint, and the AFC West race is far from settled. No team has managed to pull away from the pack, which means every remaining game could swing the division. With the stretch run ahead, here’s a look at how the four teams are stacking up.
4. The Los Angeles Chargers
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Every week, we think it cannot possibly get any worse for the Chargers. Somehow, Los Angeles always finds a new low. Most recently, the Bolts lost by 22 points to (checks notes) a 2-5 Texans team.
This season is a lost cause, and one would expect a total fire sale at the trade deadline. But never fear, Chargers fans (all 10 of you). Jeremiah Smith is on his way to Los Angeles. Maybe this time next year, the Chargers will be able to get him the ball.
Misery loves company, though, and another team keeps finding new ways to disappoint its fans.
3. The Las Vegas Raiders
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What a weird game. The Raiders played terribly most of the way, yet the 49ers seemed determined to let them back into it. At every opportunity, Las Vegas refused to climb back within reach. On six second-half possessions, the Raiders turned the ball over five times. That feels like some kind of record.
Speaking of records, the Raiders are now 4-5 after starting the season 3-0. They have built a reputation for beating only bad teams, and unfortunately, few of those remain on the schedule. Their next opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, is not one of them.
The Raiders won’t get a breather the following week, either. They face another tough test against our next team.
2. The Denver Broncos
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Is Bo Nix starting to figure it out? He has been more productive over the last couple of weeks and, more importantly, he is no longer waiting until the fourth quarter to make plays. Still, none of his completions gained 30 yards, even counting yards after the catch. Nix may be playing better, but he remains an average quarterback on a great team.
Nevertheless, Denver is now 7-2 and looks like a real threat to win the AFC West. If Nix can continue to be a high-upside game manager, there are enough weapons around him to make it work, especially with Sean Payton calling the plays. A top-10 scoring defense does not hurt, either. The Broncos are cruising into their bye week.
But while Denver may sit atop the standings, the team has not quite taken the top spot in our rankings.
Related: Raiders fans aren’t happy with Klint Kubiak’s stance on Rob Leonard
1. The Kansas City Chiefs
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Sure, it was the Jets. Still, it is not easy to put a beatdown like that on any team in the NFL. The Chiefs did not allow a single touchdown in a 23-point rout of New York, bringing their two-game losing streak to a grinding halt. Chiefs Kingdom could not relax right away, though. After trailing 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, Kansas City looked like it was headed for a third straight loss.
Luckily, the Jets let the Chiefs hang around just long enough to get things figured out, and boy, did they ever. Kenneth Walker has the run game humming right now, and Patrick Mahomes continues to make a wide receiver room full of nobodies look respectable. The Chiefs will find him some help eventually, and when they do, this offense is going to be very difficult to stop. Meanwhile, the defense has quietly become one of the best in the league. It may not look like it used to, but Kansas City is still very good.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images