As the NFL regular season barrels toward its final stretch, the AFC West is starting to take shape-and not necessarily in the way many expected back in September. With just a few weeks left, the division is revealing who’s built for a playoff push and who’s already looking ahead to the offseason. Let’s break down where each team stands in the latest AFC West power rankings.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Trending: Steady
At this point, the Raiders are just trying to get to the finish line without completely falling apart. They’re not the worst team in football, but they’re hovering near the basement, and there’s no sugarcoating it-they’ve been outmatched more often than not.
There are glimmers of hope from the rookie class, but nothing consistent enough to change the trajectory of the season. The offense can’t sustain drives, the defense can’t get off the field, and the scoreboard reflects that every week.
Next up: a road trip to Philadelphia, where the Eagles-coming off their own struggles-will be looking to bounce back. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, this one has all the makings of a “get-right” game for the home team.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Trending: Down
It’s strange to say, but the Chiefs’ grip on the AFC West-and the conference as a whole-has never looked shakier in the Patrick Mahomes era. Sunday night’s loss to Houston wasn’t just another L in the standings; it felt like a turning point.
The moment that summed it up? Travis Kelce’s second drop of the night, a costly mistake that led directly to the game-sealing interception. That’s not something we’re used to seeing from No. 87, but it’s emblematic of a team that’s starting to show its age.
Kelce doesn’t look like the same player who terrorized defenses for the better part of a decade. And while Andy Reid remains one of the most respected minds in football, he’s 67 now, and questions about how long this core can keep pushing are fair.
Mahomes is still Mahomes-one of the most gifted quarterbacks the league has ever seen. But even he can only do so much when the supporting cast isn’t holding up its end. The Chiefs are officially in “retool” territory, and their postseason hopes are fading fast.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Trending: Up
If there’s one thing the Chargers have proven this season, it’s that they’re not going down without a fight. Injuries have piled up, but this team keeps finding ways to win, and they’re doing it against real competition.
Justin Herbert? He’s silencing any remaining doubters.
Playing through a broken hand, he led the Chargers to a gutsy win over the defending Super Bowl champs. That’s the kind of performance that cements your place among the league’s elite quarterbacks-and Herbert is firmly in that top-five conversation now.
Jim Harbaugh deserves a ton of credit, too. He’s kept this team focused and competitive despite all the adversity. The Chargers are still very much alive in the AFC West race, and if they keep playing like this, they could be a problem down the stretch.
1. Denver Broncos
Trending: Steady
The Broncos aren’t blowing teams out, but they’re doing something just as important: winning consistently. Even when the margin is tight-and it usually is-Denver has found a formula that works.
Take their most recent game against the Raiders. The Broncos controlled the tempo from the opening snap, but never quite slammed the door. Still, they never let the game slip away, and that kind of control matters in December football.
They’re not flashy, but they’re effective. And now, with just three wins separating them from their first AFC West title in a decade, the Broncos are in position to finish what they started. If they can keep stacking wins, they’ll be hosting a playoff game come January-something that hasn’t happened in a long time in Denver.
Final Thoughts
The AFC West has flipped the script this season. The Chiefs are looking mortal, the Chargers are surging, and the Broncos have quietly become the most consistent team in the division. Meanwhile, the Raiders are stuck in neutral, already eyeing what comes next.
With just a few weeks left, every snap matters. Buckle up-this race isn’t over yet.