Around the AFC West: Stidham Steps Up, McDaniel Joins the Chargers, and Reid Backs Nagy
Broncos: Stidham Embraces the Moment, Payton Eyes Ground Game Reset
Jarrett Stidham wasn’t just stepping into a starting role-he was stepping into a moment. With Bo Nix sidelined, the Broncos’ quarterback took the field against his former team with purpose and poise, fueled by the support of a locker room that had his back.
“It means a lot,” Stidham said after the game. “Any time you step into a situation like this, I just want to go out there and play the absolute best I can for the guys in this locker room.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the building. Stidham isn’t just filling in-he’s trying to lead.
And while the effort was there, he knows the margin for error shrinks in games of this magnitude. One play in particular-a misfire under pressure-stood out to him as a teachable moment.
“I was trying to throw it away,” he said, reflecting on the decision. “The pressure got up on me fast, and I was just trying to get rid of it.
But I can’t put the ball in a position like that. That was completely on me.”
It’s the kind of accountability that resonates, especially in a locker room trying to find its identity late in the season. And while Stidham’s nickname-“Stiddy,” courtesy of none other than Tom Brady-adds a lighthearted touch, the focus in Denver is serious.
Head coach Sean Payton sounded cautiously optimistic about Bo Nix’s recovery, saying it “seems fairly optimistic” that the rookie will be ready for training camp. But in the meantime, Payton’s attention is shifting toward the run game-a unit that struggled to find consistency after losing J.K. Dobbins.
“That will be an important study with urgency,” Payton said. “Losing Dobbins was a tough loss.”
Expect Denver to dig deep into the film this offseason, looking for ways to reestablish a ground game that can take pressure off whoever lines up under center.
Chargers: McDaniel Joins Harbaugh’s Staff, Plans to Lighten Herbert’s Load
In Los Angeles, the Chargers continue to reshape their identity under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, and the latest addition to the staff-offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel-is bringing a fresh perspective to the table.
Asked how Harbaugh pitched him the job, McDaniel made it clear: there was no hard sell.
“Jim wasn’t trying to sell me on anything,” McDaniel said. “He was excited about the prospect-if and only if it was a marriage that was consensual. Not a hostage situation.”
That blend of humor and honesty is classic McDaniel, but make no mistake-he’s already locked in on how to get the best out of quarterback Justin Herbert. And it starts with not asking him to be Superman on every snap.
“I think not relying too heavily on Justin’s ability to do above and beyond is critical,” McDaniel said. “That’ll be one of the first things we’ll try to do-take a little off his plate.”
Herbert has the arm talent and poise to carry a franchise, but even the best quarterbacks need help. Whether that means a more balanced run game, a revamped protection scheme, or more rhythm throws, McDaniel’s goal is clear: let Herbert be elite without having to be a hero.
Chiefs: Reid Champions Nagy, Welcomes Bieniemy Back
In Kansas City, Andy Reid is once again standing on the table for one of his own. Former offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who previously served as head coach of the Chicago Bears, remains a hot name in coaching circles-even if the current cycle is narrowing.
“Matt and I have a great relationship,” Reid said. “He deserves to have a head coaching job.
Somebody is missing a gem here. That’s how I feel.”
Nagy, who was named Coach of the Year in 2018, has been back with the Chiefs in a coordinator role. And while the offense didn’t meet its usual high standard this season, Nagy isn’t running from the responsibility.
“You’re frustrated, disappointed,” Nagy said. “Because it’s your job as a coordinator to make sure everything is done the right way and that you succeed and win.
That didn’t happen. That drives me.
That motivates me.”
He’s been through the highs and lows of NFL coaching, and he’s made it clear-he’s ready for another shot. But if that opportunity doesn’t come this year, Kansas City still benefits. Because as Reid pointed out, the return of Eric Bieniemy gives the Chiefs another proven mind in the building.
“It has a chance to be a win-win here when everything is said and done,” Reid said.
The Chiefs have built a culture where coaching talent is as deep as the roster. And with Bieniemy back and Nagy still in the fold-for now-Kansas City’s offensive brain trust remains one of the league’s most formidable.
Final Word
The AFC West is in flux. Denver is navigating a quarterback shuffle while trying to reclaim its identity on the ground.
The Chargers are building a new offensive vision around Herbert, one that doesn’t ask him to do it all. And in Kansas City, the Chiefs continue to be a coaching incubator, where future head coaches are forged.
Whether it’s “Stiddy” trying to seize his moment, McDaniel easing the load on a star QB, or Reid backing his coaching tree, the storylines in this division are as compelling as ever. And with the offseason just around the corner, the stakes are only going to rise.