The Beginning of the End? (2025 AFC West Preview)

The AFC West. Wow! As a Southern Californian, I'm elated that I get to see this division unleashed literally every week. Well, this and the other West Division. The AFC West has alway been interesting, and last year, it was quite beastly. Three of the AFC West's four teams remained in the thick of things all year. Three of them also made the playoffs; an absolutely amazing feat.

Yet for this preview, I have to start with the one team in this division who missed out on the playoff party.

Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)

Remember when the Las Vegas Raiders won the last game of the regular season to get into the playoffs? Seems like yesterday, doesn't it? That was January 9, 2022, just over three and a half years ago. What followed was three seasons' worth of embarrassment, cacophonies, and stupidity--and that's just Josh McDaniels. 2024 saw the Raiders win just four games. They are a far, far cry from that team who survived so much bullshit to get into the playoffs, and something tells me that last year won't be the last time that the Raiders will continue to serve as the AFC West's black sheep.

Denver Broncos (10-7)

Even though I did expect the Denver Broncos to somehow be playoff-bound in 2024, I was surprised they made it. It had been a hard period for the Broncos, going from winning Super Bowl 50 to several seasons of bad play, losing seasons, and terrible quarterbacks. And then, in last year's draft, the Broncos drafted Bo Nix. For some reason, I had a feeling. "They're going to make it," was my thought. I was expected to be wrong, but I wasn't. That first Sunday of the 2025 calendar year saw the Broncos make mincemeat out of the Chiefs, and get into the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50. Yes, it was the B-Squad Chiefs they flattened, but we can't ruin a feel good story with the facts. I would not be surprised if Denver makes it back in 2025, even with some other teams getting better. Bo Nix has done a lot for the Broncos in little time, and he'll continue to do it.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

Another playoff appearance I saw coming, and I was more confident with this one. The Chargers did it. During the 2023 season, they kicked Brandon Staley to the curb. During that offseason, they snagged Jim Harbaugh as their head coach. That's how I knew they'd get in. Harbaugh has the experience, he coached in Super Bowl XLVII. Sure enough, the Chargers won 11 games, and got in, but they were blasted in the playoffs. At least when Denver was blasted, they had the ultimate excuse: they were just happy to be there. This was LA's second playoff appearance in three years. The Chargers really need to figure out how to win these games, especialy since last year's appearance was two years removed from that collapse against the Jags. The Bolts will be in the playoffs again this year, I just know it. But they really need to get a win in the postseason.

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

The million dollar question heading into the 2025 season: "Where do the Chiefs go from here?" Millions of NFL fans celebrated the Chiefs' downfall in Super Bowl LIX nearly six months prior, but let's get one thing straight: we can't say it's the end for them. Not yet, anyway. When this group lost Super Bowl LV, it was followed by a home loss in the AFC Championship, and then, they let go of Tyreek Hill. We all heard the murmurs. "It's over." "Chiefs are done." "Won't even win the division." All they did was win back-to-back Super Bowls, and nearly three-peat. That's all. Was it fun seeing the Chiefs get blasted in the Super Bowl? Yes. Do I think they'll be in Super Bowl LX? Honestly, no. But do they have a chance to get to Super Bowl LX? Hell yes they do. The Chiefs are hampered, but the pulse is still there.

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The AFC West will turn heads for another season, because it's what they do. With the Chargers and Broncos being strong, I do expect another strong year for this division, and I'll get to see it on a weekly basis. This is going to be one hell of a season for the AFC West.