Few divisions in the NFL have been as top-heavy as the AFC West in recent years with the Kansas City Chiefs bidding for a sixth successive title in 2021. In the time since the divisional crown went somewhere other than Arrowhead, there have only been fleeting challenges from the Raiders and Chargers, who have both uprooted and moved elsewhere in the hope of more success.
Denver were the last team to beat the Chiefs to the AFC West title when Peyton Manning was still slinging it but they haven’t really recovered since The Sheriff left town in 2016, drifting into the weeds.
With a Super Bowl-calibre team and such little competition recently, it is no surprise the Chiefs are 2/5 favourites to win the west. The Chargers are 9/2 to successfully raid Chiefs Kingdom, with the Broncos 6/1 and the Raiders 22/1.
There’s No One Like Mahomes
The Chiefs return to action likely still smarting from their humbling Super Bowl defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. Having gone 12-4 in the regular season and then knocked off Cleveland and Buffalo in the playoffs, the 2020 champions just feel short of running it back as injuries across the offensive line brought about their demise.
Without adequate protection, Patrick Mahomes was left running for his life from the Bucs in the Super Bowl but the Chiefs have made splashy moves to address their superstar quarterback’s preservation this off-season, landing Orlando Brown and Joe Thuney, amongst others, to bolster the O-line.
Got it done in AZ
pic.twitter.com/lh3xx2eRUJ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 21, 2021
If they can keep Mahomes upright then the Chiefs have a great opportunity to get back to the Super Bowl and start the season as 5/1 favourites to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy. The excellent supporting cast is still all in place around Mahomes with top tight-end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill returning, alongside a strong supporting cast of offensive pieces head coach Andy Reid will no doubt bring the best out of.
Reid and Mahomes have made magic together so far with the 25-year-old quarterback throwing for 4,740 yards and 38 touchdowns, adding a further 308 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Mahomes and the Chiefs set a very high standard in the AFC West and are strong favourites to be champions again but they could at least face a serious challenge this year.
Herbert Leading the Charge
The Los Angeles Chargers have thrust themselves back into playoff contention thanks to quarterback Justin Herbert. The Oregon alumni blew the doors off in his maiden season, throwing for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns as he claimed the NFL Rookie of the Year prize.
Despite Herbert’s efforts, the Chargers still managed to post a 7-9 season which ultimately cost head coach Anthony Lynn his job. Brandon Staley has taken up the post and there’s optimism the former Rams defensive coordinator can guide the team to the postseason.
Like the Chiefs, the Chargers have invested heavily in their offensive line this off-season to protect their prize asset and if that works out, Herbert could carry them far with over 9.5 regular seasons priced at 23/20.
What holds the Chargers back is a lack of depth in a few key positions, mainly on defence, but they look the best of the rest thanks in the west to Herbert.
Broncos and Raiders Missing Key Pieces
That title of best of the rest would have gone to Denver had they solved their quarterback problems but instead of taking a chance on Justin Fields in this year’s draft, they have instead added Teddy Bridgewater to an uninspiring quarterback room lead currently by Drew Lock.
Injuries and Lock were the main reason the Broncos went 5-11 last year and the return to fitness of the likes of star wide receiver Courtland Sutton should see them bump up that number of wins.
Rather than join the Chiefs and Chargers in the war of the quarterbacks, the Broncos have instead focused their attention on trying to shut down those offences and in that regard, they have done a good job. Von Miller, a 33/1 chance for Defensive Player of the Year, leads an all-star defence that could be the best in the league with Bradley Chubb, Shelby Harris and Justin Simmons all classy operators.
While Denver are far from the finished article, at least they are doing something right, unlike the Las Vegas Raiders.
We are entering year four of the Jon Gruden project and the Raiders appear to be regressing under the head coach, despite going a respectable 8-8 last year. Vegas has frittered away a lot of the draft capital they accumulated through trading the likes of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, while their free agent moves have also raised some eyebrows.
Again they were busy in free agency this year, adding some nice pieces in John Brown and Kenyan Drake but the picture as to how they’ll be used is unclear.
At least fans in Las Vegas will get to see their team this season, although whether they like what they see is another matter.
*All odds correct at time of writing.