A divisional weekend has a way of cutting through the noise, and this one made the AFC West picture look a lot different. The Chargers are sitting at the bottom now, the Raiders are climbing, the Broncos keep winning ugly, and the Chiefs look like they’ve found their old stride again.
The biggest slide belongs to the Los Angeles Chargers, who have dropped into the basement of these power rankings. The offense still has almost nothing beyond Ladd McConkey, and the rebuilt offensive line doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade over the injury-ravaged version from 2025. What’s really changed is the defense, which can no longer mask the rest of the roster the way it did last season.
Los Angeles is allowing far more points and yards per game this year even though the personnel is nearly the same. The one major absence on that side of the ball is middle linebacker Denzel Perryman, and his injury may be exposing a bigger issue than one missing starter.
If a 33-year-old linebacker who was never elite in his prime can derail your defense, the talent level is a problem. This group looks old, looks “mid,” and could be headed for a roster reset.
“Rebuilding year” might start coming up around Los Angeles before long.
That opening has belonged to the Las Vegas Raiders, who have moved up to No. 3.
Whether they’re truly good is still up for debate, but they’re clearly better than they were a year ago, and the coaching change is a major reason why. Klint Kubiak has this team playing cleaner football than Pete Carroll and his staff managed last season.
The most obvious step forward has come along the offensive line. The talent is improved, but players such as Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze are also performing better in the new system.
The quarterback situation has helped, too. Kirk Cousins is showing his age, but six touchdowns in two games is six touchdowns in two games.
He’s steering the offense efficiently and, just as importantly, has quieted the “Mendoza” chants so the rookie can get the kind of developmental runway he needs.
At No. 2, the Denver Broncos are back in familiar territory: surviving tight games and finding a way to win them. Their 20-13 victory over a solid Jaguars team required a fourth-quarter comeback, with the defense carrying the load for most of the afternoon before Bo Nix delivered a late offensive burst.
That formula is effective, but it also raises a real question about how long it can hold up. Nix looks like he has settled in as an above-average system quarterback, and Denver tried to help him this offseason by adding more weapons, including Jaylen Waddle.
So far, that hasn’t changed the shape of the offense. The issue now is whether Sean Payton can unlock more, or whether Nix has already shown the limits of what he is.
And at the top, the Chiefs look like the Chiefs again. Patrick Mahomes put together a huge day against a strong Colts defense, throwing for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas City’s offense came alive. If that level of production sticks, the Chiefs are right back in the AFC contender conversation.
There are still some concerns on the other side of the ball, though. Kansas City allowed 30 points to Daniel Jones and the Colts, and the defense had trouble getting off the field.
The Chiefs limited explosive plays, but they didn’t generate the kind of splash moments that defined recent Super Bowl runs. Against Indianapolis, they had just one interception and no sacks, and that’s the kind of detail that will need watching in the weeks ahead.
In Other News...
Maxx Crosby Weighed In As Caleb Williams Injury Backlash Grew
Caleb Williams hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Vikings quickly became bigger than a simple quarterback health update, especially once he was carted off the field and Chicago began sorting through the early fallout. Bears coach Ben Johnson has already described Williams as week-to-week, but the conversation around the injury shifted almost immediately into scrutiny over how the quarterback handled the moment and what it might mean for his return.
Maxx Crosby jumped into that debate by publicly defending Williams as the backlash grew, offering a notable voice from outside Chicagos building. For the Raiders, it is another reminder of how closely the league watches young quarterbacks under pressure, and how fast a routine injury report can turn into a much broader conversation about toughness, perception and recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rookie Class Is Already Creating One Early Separation
The Raiders got an early look at a sizable chunk of their 2026 draft class in Week 2 against the Chargers, and the first two games of the season have already started to sort out who is making noise and who is still looking for a foothold. Six rookies saw the field in that matchup, giving the coaching staff a useful snapshot of how the class is translating from offseason promise to real-game responsibility.
Zeke Masses has clearly put himself in the conversation after a standout defensive showing that included two interceptions, while some of the other first-year players had more limited impact as the evaluation process continues. It is still very early, but the first two weeks have given the Raiders an initial read on which newcomers are already carving out roles and which ones will need more time before the picture gets clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza Just Added An Unexpected Twist To His Future
Fernando Mendoza is already making a name for himself in Las Vegas beyond the huddle. The Raiders quarterback, formerly of Indiana, has launched a new series called "Finance with Fernando," a project aimed at helping people learn the basics of financial responsibility. It fits neatly with the off-field interests Mendoza has shown for some time, including a clear emphasis on finance and business in his LinkedIn profile and his academic background in business administration.
For the Raiders, the timing adds another layer to a player they view as a potential future face of the franchise. Mendoza is expected to spend much of his first NFL season in a backup role, but he is already building a profile that extends well past the depth chart. If his on-field rise takes time, his off-field brand is moving fast, and Las Vegas has a young quarterback whose path may be unfolding in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]