2024 AFC West Division Preview

Will the Kansas City Chiefs be the first NFL team to have a 3 peat? It is hard to imagine, but if any team could do it, I think it could be them. How different will the Los Angeles Charges be this season with new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh? Can the Las Vegas Raiders bring a championship to Sin City? Or will they go into rebuild mode and ship Davante Adams to the Jets? Who will be the starting QB come Week 1 in Denver? The Chiefs are still the Chiefs, and I don’t think they will be dethroned anytime soon.

Kansas City Chiefs

2023 Team Record: 11-6

Key Additions:

• WR – Marquise Brown
• WR – Xavier Worthy*

Key Departures:

• S – Mike Edwards
• G – Nick Allegretti

The Chiefs have a dynasty that looks unbeatable on their hands. Sure, the Chiefs are going to lose some football games. But with Patrick Mahomes at the helm and Andy Reid coaching the team, how many more Super Bowls will they win? The WR pickups they made this offseason will boost the offense. I don’t think they had any significant departures on offense or defense, so a 3 peat seems possible. I will continue to ride with the Chiefs being the AFC West leader, and most likely NFL Champions until Patrick Mahomes is gone.

Las Vegas Raiders

2023 Team Record: 8-9

Key Additions:

• QB – Gardner Minshew
• DT – Christian Wilkins
• TE – Brock Bowers*

Key Departures:

• QB – Jimmy Garoppolo
• RB – Josh Jacobs

The Raiders will have a full season with Head Coach Antonio Pierce leading. Who will he have starting at QB? Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell? Will Davante Adams return to his all-pro ways and be a top 5 WR in the NFL? If so, will he still be with the Raiders or on another team (cough, NY Jets)? Brock Bowers falling to the Raiders in the draft could be exactly what they need to help push the offense to be great. Losing RB Josh Jacobs may hurt, but they have a serviceable replacement in Zamir White. I don’t see them beating the Chiefs, but I think they will be a tough matchup for anyone.

Denver Broncos

2023 Team Record: 8-9

Key Additions:

• QB – Bo Nix*
• WR – Josh Reynolds

Key Departures:

• QB – Russell Wilson
• WR – Jerry Jeudy
• C – Lloyd Cushenberry III

Head Coach Sean Payton is rebuilding this Denver Broncos team exactly how he wants it. Shipping out Russell Wilson to start over with his own QB, whether that is Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, or even Zach Wilson. The Broncos offense will look different without Russell Wilson and WR Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy never lived up to his hype, so his departure may not hurt as much. Their defense was not good last year, and I don’t see major changes on that side of the ball. This team is rebuilding, and I think they will be worse this upcoming season than they were last year.

Los Angeles Chargers

2023 Team Record: 5-12

Key Additions:

• TE – Hayden Hurst
• RB – Gus Edwards
• LB – Denzel Perryman

Key Departures:

• WR – Keenan Allen
• WR – Mike Williams
• RB – Austin Ekeler

The Los Angeles Chargers surprised me with how bad they were last year. For the upcoming season, their offense will be completely different. How will the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams affect Justin Herbert? Who will step up and be RB 1 now that Austin Ekeler is gone? The Chargers picked up both RB’s from the Ravens in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. The team will be completely different with new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Can he make a big enough difference on the sideline to help push this team to the top of the mountain like he did with the San Francisco 49ers years ago? I think the Chargers will be much better than last year, as long as they can get solid WR play.

2024 AFC West Prediction

1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Las Vegas Raiders
4. Denver Broncos

*Drafted Player from 2024 NFL Draft