The AFC West picture looks a lot different after Week 3, and the Broncos are the team sitting on top of it.
Denver is coming off a dramatic Sunday night win over the Los Angeles Rams, its second straight victory, and the Broncos have now put together a winning record to close out September for the first time in the Sean Payton era. At 2-1, they’ve handled business at home in both of those wins and won’t be back there until October 15, when the Seattle Seahawks come to town for Thursday Night Football.
It’s still early, but the division is starting to sort itself out, and Denver has separated from the pack enough to grab the top spot in these AFC West power rankings.
- Los Angeles Chargers, 0-3
The Chargers had a shot against the Buffalo Bills before things slipped away, and that’s been the story of their season so far. They’re 0-3, and the performances have been rough enough that it’s hard to see a quick turnaround.
Sure, the 2025 Houston Texans made the playoffs after starting 0-3, but the Chargers don’t look like a team built for that kind of rescue job. The schedule isn’t doing them any favors either, and an 0-4 or 0-5 start feels very much on the table.
This has been a mess in just about every area. The coaching has been poor, the roster hasn’t been good enough, and the quarterback isn’t playing the way he needs to be.
- Las Vegas Raiders, 3-0
The Raiders are undefeated, and that matters. They’ve beaten the Miami Dolphins, Chargers, and New Orleans Saints, which is a nice start but not exactly the kind of opening stretch that proves everything.
What comes next is going to tell us a lot more. Kansas City, New England, Buffalo, and the Rams are all coming up, and that could turn this fast if the Raiders aren’t as complete as their record suggests.
There’s been plenty to like so far. The offense has done its part, and the defense has held up. Kirk Cousins has been mostly excellent, too, though he’s still a little removed from his best years and doesn’t consistently threaten defenses downfield.
So yes, 3-0 deserves respect. It just doesn’t mean this roster has no flaws.
- Kansas City Chiefs, 3-0
The Chiefs are still the Chiefs, but they’re not ahead of Denver here.
Yes, Kansas City beat the Broncos handily in Week 1. But Weeks 2 and 3 weren’t nearly as convincing. The Chiefs needed overtime at home to get past the shaky Indianapolis Colts, and they couldn’t shake the Dolphins until the fourth quarter.
That’s where the gap opens up. The Broncos have put together two excellent wins against teams that combined for 25 regular season victories last year in Jacksonville and Los Angeles. Denver has simply looked better against better opponents, and that gives them the edge right now.
The Chiefs are absolutely still in the mix. They just have to settle for second behind Denver for the moment.
- Denver Broncos, 2-1
Denver took a punch from Kansas City in Week 1 and responded the right way.
The Broncos came back with two statement home wins over Jacksonville and Los Angeles, and those weren’t ordinary victories. The Jaguars and Rams are both among the better teams in the league, and Denver handled both in a way that says a lot about where this team is right now.
The second-half numbers tell the story too. The Broncos scored all but three of their points in those two games after halftime, and they’ve kept ending up in one-score battles. Against the Rams on Sunday night, they were blanked in the first half before flipping the script after the break.
Now Denver sits at 2-1, has avoided falling two games behind Kansas City and Las Vegas, and has finished September with a winning record for the first time in the Payton era. Those two quality wins are enough to push the Broncos back to the top of the AFC West.
In Other News...
Broncos Fans Loved This Rare Aaron Donald Moment On SNF
Aaron Donalds comeback with the Rams has already made for plenty of talking points, but one snap against the Broncos stood out for a different reason. On a key play, Denver right guard Quinn Meinerz held up Donald long enough for Bo Nix to hit Jaylen Waddle for a first down, a rare result against one of the most disruptive defenders of his era.
For Broncos fans, it was the kind of small win that can light up social media in a hurry, especially with Donald still flashing the form that made him such a force before his retirement. The clip spread fast online because it felt notable on its own, and because any play that keeps Donald from wrecking the pocket tends to draw a reaction. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Put Matthew Stafford On An Unwanted NFL List
Matthew Stafford spent another late-game sequence under the kind of pressure Denver has tried to manufacture all season, and this one ended with the Broncos turning defense into points. Linebacker Talanoa Hufanga stepped in front of a throw and took it back for a pick-six, flipping the game in Denvers favor at a critical moment and putting the Broncos defense at the center of the finish.
Staffords miscue also carried a place in NFL history, though not the kind any quarterback wants attached to his name. The interception return touchdown was the 33rd pick-six of Staffords career, moving him past Brett Favre for the all-time lead on that list and adding an unwanted entry to a resume already full of big-game volume. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Rally Win Will Ignite Debate Over One Crucial Late Call
Sunday Night Football gave the Broncos a comeback win and a whole lot of postgame chatter. Trailing by 16 points, Denver steadied itself and rallied past the Rams 30-26, turning a rough night into one of those victories that can shape an early-season conversation around a teams resilience.
Josh Wallaces controversial defensive pass interference call is going to be the part everyone keeps replaying. The flag wiped out an interception and gave Denver a fresh set of downs near the goal line, and the Broncos made it count by punching in a touchdown before closing out the finish. For Denver, the result matters most, but the sequence is certain to fuel debate long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]