AFC West Power Rankings After Week 13: Broncos Take Command as Chiefs Slide Further
After nine straight seasons of Kansas City dominance, the AFC West is finally shifting. The Chiefs, once the gold standard in the division, are now scrambling just to stay in the playoff hunt.
Denver, meanwhile, has flipped the script with a nine-game win streak and sits comfortably atop the standings heading into the final stretch of the season. With just over a month left before the postseason, the division looks as unpredictable as it’s been in years.
Let’s break down where things stand in the AFC West after a wild Week 13.
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
It’s been a rough ride in Vegas this season, and Week 13 didn’t offer any signs of a turnaround. The Raiders have now dropped 10 of their first 12 games, and the issues aren’t isolated - this is a team struggling across the board.
Offensively, they can’t find rhythm. Defensively, they can’t get off the field.
And structurally, there’s a sense that the organization is still searching for a clear direction after another offseason of change.
This year was supposed to be about turning the page, but instead, it’s feeling like the same story on repeat. With four games left, the focus now shifts to evaluation and figuring out who - if anyone - is part of the long-term solution.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
It’s strange to say, but the Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory - and not in a good way. A team that used to thrive in tight games is now losing them, and the magic that carried them through the 2024 season just hasn’t been there in 2025. The offense has sputtered, the defense has been inconsistent, and the roster, once loaded with top-end talent, now feels thin in key spots.
At 6-6, Kansas City is four games behind Denver in the division and facing a steep uphill battle just to make the playoffs. Even if they run the table, their postseason fate isn’t guaranteed.
For a franchise that’s been the class of the AFC for nearly a decade, this kind of backslide is jarring. The cracks that have been papered over in recent years are now showing - and opponents are taking full advantage.
2. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
The Chargers did what they needed to do in Week 13, taking care of business against the Raiders. But the bigger story is Justin Herbert’s injury - a broken non-throwing hand that clouds his availability moving forward. If he’s limited or forced to miss time, it could change the complexion of LA’s playoff push.
Even with Herbert healthy, this is a team with clear limitations. The offensive line lacks depth, and the roster doesn’t have the kind of playoff-tested foundation that can weather adversity deep into January. They’re good enough to grab a Wild Card spot, but unless something clicks in a major way, it’s hard to see the Chargers making a deep run.
Still, credit where it’s due: they’ve found ways to win close games and stay in the mix, and that’s more than a lot of teams can say right now.
1. Denver Broncos (10-2)
Say it louder: the Denver Broncos are the best team in the AFC West right now - and it’s not particularly close. After starting the season 1-2, Denver has ripped off nine straight wins, including a gritty overtime victory over Washington in Week 13. It wasn’t their cleanest performance - the defense had its lapses - but Bo Nix came through when it mattered most, once again showing poise in high-pressure moments.
That’s been the theme of this Broncos run: finding ways to win, even when things aren’t perfect. The offense has steadily improved, and while the defense had an off night, it’s been a reliable unit for most of the season. At 10-2, Denver isn’t just leading the division - they’re firmly in the conversation for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
This team has found its identity, and it’s built on resilience, balance, and a quarterback who’s growing more confident each week. With the Chiefs fading and the Chargers facing uncertainty, the Broncos are in full control of their own destiny.
Final Thoughts
The AFC West has gone from predictable to wide open in the span of a season. The Chiefs’ dynasty isn’t officially over, but the cracks are undeniable.
The Chargers are hanging tough but face questions of their own. And the Broncos?
They’ve taken the wheel and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the division race may not be as close as years past - but it’s just as compelling.