The Oakland Raiders were expected to improve, but they had few believers because of their consistently disappointing seasons in recent years. The San Diego Chargers were not expected to be much better than they were during the 2015 season, when they won only four games.
And yet, through 10 weeks of the season, no division has been as objectively successful as the AFC West. The four teams have the best aggregate record of any division at 25-13. They also have a 19-7 aggregate record against teams outside of the division. The AFC West is the only division in which all four teams have a positive point differential, and these four teams also have the best aggregate turnover ratio of any division.
Most importantly, if the season ended today, Kansas City, Oakland and Denver would all qualify for the playoffs. All things considered, the AFC West is currently the best overall division in football. Its teams will give the AFC frontrunners, the New England Patriots, a run for their money in the battle to reach the Super Bowl.
Let’s examine the division’s four teams, beginning with the 4-6 Chargers. The Chargers have been defined by their second-half collapses and tendency to give up early leads.
The Brooklyn Bolts experienced yet another breakdown this past week, as the Miami Dolphins came back from an early 10-point deficit and intercepted Philip Rivers four times in the fourth quarter en route to a 31-24 victory.
The Chargers do have plenty of reason for optimism. On offense, Rivers has played well for the most part at quarterback and Melvin Gordon is emerging as a superstar at running back. Tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry have complemented each other well as a dynamic veteran-rookie duo.
On the defensive side, cornerback Casey Hayward has led the way. He is tied for the league lead with five interceptions.
Normally, the Chargers would not be considered out of playoff contention at 4-6. However, the AFC’s top-tier teams, especially the other teams from the AFC West, have already separated themselves from the rest of the conference. Barring a 6-0 run to close out the season, it is difficult to see a scenario in which the Chargers make the playoffs.
The Chargers have not exceeded expectations thus far. The same cannot be said of the Oakland Raiders, who sit confidently at 7-2 and are well on their way to their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2002.
Jack Del Rio is a defense-focused coach, but it is Oakland’s offense that is responsible for the team’s substantial improvement. Young quarterback Derek Carr has demonstrated tremendous growth and is a legitimate MVP candidate.
In the receiving corps, the young Amari Cooper is playing up to his immense potential, while veteran Michael Crabtree is continuing his career resurgence in Oakland. In addition, running back Latavius Murray has run the ball effectively.
Murray’s most impressive performance came in Oakland’s most recent game against the Broncos, when he had 127 offensive yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Going into the season, many believed that the Raiders would go as far as their defens.
However, for the most part, the defense has actually struggled to shut down its opponents. The unit is anchored by stud defensive end Khalil Mack. He has done his part, recording seven sacks thus far, but the rest of the defense must step up if the Raiders are to have a genuine chance at reaching the Super Bowl. If the defense does improve, the Raiders may be the most well-rounded team in football.
Now on to the Chiefs, who are looking to reach the playoffs for the third time in Andy Reid’s four years as their coach. The offense is nothing special but gets the job done consistently.
Quarterback Alex Smith has thrown eight touchdowns in eight games but has only three interceptions. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Travis Kelce have been productive as Smith’s two primary targets, while running backs Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West have performed well in the absence of Jamaal Charles.
Kansas City is an elite team because of its defense. With a league-leading 13 interceptions and 22 total turnovers forced, the Chiefs are a force to be reckoned with when their opponents have the football.
The secondary is led by Marcus Peters, who is tied with San Diego’s Casey Hayward with a league-high of five interceptions. Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen also have two interceptions apiece, with Berry’s most-recent coming this past Sunday against the Carolina Panthers in the form of a pick six.
The touchdown was part of the Chiefs’ 20-0 run to close the game, a 20-17 victory over the Panthers. This type of victory should prove extremely motivational going forward, as the Chiefs beat a very strong team in remarkable fashion. The Panthers may be 3-6, but with reigning league MVP Cam Newton at the helm, they are still not to be trifled with.
The Chiefs progressively improve as the season goes on, as evidenced by their 10-game winning streak to close out the last season. They are currently on a five-game winning streak and boast a 7-2 overall record. All of the pieces are in place for them to finally make a deep playoff run this season.
Last but not least are the 7-3 Broncos. Similar to the Chiefs, they have an adequate offense but a ferocious, dominant defense. The makeup of the team is more or less the same as it was a year ago when the Broncos won the Super Bowl.
QB Trevor Siemian has performed just as well as Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler did last season. He has shown considerable improvement as the season has progressed due to his developing chemistry with wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. At running back, Devontae Booker has stepped up in the absence of the injured C. J. Anderson and has helped to create balance for the offensive unit.
The defense is where the team really shines, though. Reigning Super Bowl MVP Von Miller leads the way with his 9.5 sacks at linebacker, while Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr., T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart have effectively manned the secondary. Another member of the secondary, Will Parks, was instrumental in Denver’s win on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. With 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, Parks returned a blocked extra point for a two-point conversion to give Denver a 25-23 victory.
Parks’ emphatic game-winning score is representative of Denver’s extraordinary ability to turn defense into offense. This defense-first style has proved to be successful before, so there is no reason for the Broncos to alter their system going forward. Look for the Broncos to close out the regular season strongly and then have a legitimate shot at winning another Vince Lombardi Trophy.
After singing the praises of all of these teams, who do I think is the best? Right now, I’ll take the Chiefs by a narrow margin because of their 2-0 record in the division, their 4-0 record at home, their current five-game winning streak, their vicious defense and their passable yet dependable offense.
I also picked them to finish with the AFC’s best record prior to this season and have seen no reason to waiver from this prediction. Kansas City’s week 12 primetime game in Denver should also reveal the hierarchy of the division.
However, for now, it is fair to say that there will be no surprise if the Chiefs, Broncos or Raiders are playing on Feb. 5.
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