The AFC West had little to talk about beyond the Kansas City Chiefs. The Los Angeles Charges have been the next closest team to make something happen, but they inevitably fall short. The Denver Broncos have been what some might call a dumpster fire or a QB carousel, and the Las Vegas Raiders have been…well…Raidering.
Thanks to all the changes in the offseason, the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be interesting for the AFC West.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Bold Predictions.
The Chargers Will Make The Playoffs
They have been so close each year, but something always seems to happen. They were last in the division in the 2023-23 season with a 5-12 record, but growth and winning are possible. The Chargers are poised to be a pain in Kansas City’s season. However, they have always been missing something and inevitably fall short.
With the addition of Jim Harbaugh at the helm, look for a team on track to become something better than they have been—a team with an identity of its own and not based on either the Los Angeles Rams or one of the AFC West teams.
Bo Nix Will Be The Next Elway For Denver
Nix is the second rookie quarterback to start for the Broncos. The first was John Elway. Though Nix has a long journey ahead of him and a lot to live up to in terms of expectations (looking at you, Sean Payton), don’t discount the young rookie just yet. There will be quite a bit of growing pains this season and perhaps for the next few.
In the preseason, his stats and performance on the field earned him the starting job over Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson, both of whom have NFL experience. This feeling of hope has not existed since Peyton Manning. Since Manning’s retirement, Denver has had 14 different starting quarterbacks, of whom only two posted a winning record.
Raiders Will Not Get Past .500
Last season, they were second in the division at 8-9; this season, they will continue to be slightly below average. Their issue has been instability in the coaching position. Denver has their carousel of quarterbacks, and the Raiders have their carousel of head coaches. Antonio Pierce will eventually make something of his players and get them past the .500 mark, but not this season.
The Raiders will simply continue to be petty bullies. The little stunt with the Kermit puppet during training camp left people shaking their heads; they are the only team in the AFC West that could get away with such taunting. (Although they do eventually pay for it in the long run.)
The Chiefs Will Three-Peat
Time, in her infinite wisdom, is making up for all the years Kansas City struggled—and there were a lot. Making it and getting the win is undoubtedly at the forefront of the player’s and coaches’ minds. This is the goal and plan. How they get there might not be pretty or easy, but it is a believable and achievable goal. Even though it is a much bolder (and more reasonable) prediction to say they will not get the three-peat, never underestimate the will and drive of the Chiefs. Or the sheer will of Patrick Mahomes.
