AFC West

Let’s just get on with it.  The AFC West –  Last but certainly not least.

Denver – Red really likes the Broncos chances here.  This was a team that should have been in the Superb Owl last season, but for missing Bo Nix and lackluster running game. The Broncos looked out of sync in the snowy conditions.  All the pieces are back this season.  Nix is developing behind center and the backfield is solid if certainly not spectacular.  Jaylen Waddle is a key addition to the receiving corps.  The Broncos defense was top tier and probably the main reason the team went 14-3 and surprisingly secured the top spot in the AFC – not that it did them much good in the AFC Championship game.  Yet somehow, the Broncos are not the favorite on the road in the Monday night kickoff against the Chiefs.   That game will tell a lot about both teams.  Stay tuned for Red’s Week 1 predictions.  The best team in the NFL looks likely to repeat as division champs.  Broncos are down a bit but still finish 12-5.

Los Angeles – Red has been overly solicitous of the Chargers over the years.  And they have pretty much disappointed him.  Justin Herbert is back for the 3^rd season of the so far lagging Jim Harbaugh era.  New offensive and defensive coordinators could spell trouble out of the box with new schemes, but the good news is the first two games are against the Cardinals and Raiders at home in southern California.  Then comes a tough 7 week stretch traveling across the 3-time zone hex to face the Bills, up the coast to Seattle, followed by the Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Texans and Ravens.  Even after that there are not just a whole lot of obvious wins on the schedule.  The Jets at home, then another triple time zone game in Tampa Bay, and the Raiders again.  Chargers will have to bring it and win some games against playoff teams, but 9-8 looks pretty good and maybe a peek at the playoffs.

Kansas City – All dynasties have some dips (ask any Roman emperor).  The Chiefs took a big dive last season missing the playoffs with a pathetic 6-11 campaign ending an 11 year playoff run while losing 8 of 9 down the stretch.  Mahomes was out after Week 15 and Gardner Minshew also went down, but by that point the season was practically over for the Chiefs.  Mind you, the Chiefs were 1-9 in one possession games after setting an NFL record 12 wins in such games in 2024.  But the Chiefs never really seemed that close to breaking out after an 0-2 start despite being 5-3 near the turn.  The disappointing running game will get a boost with Kenneth Walker III leaving the Seahawks and the receiving corps is adequate with perhaps a budding star in X. Worthy. The defense will benefit from some new young players like Peter Woods, but defense does not win games in KC.  Still it is hard to see too much improvement.  Red bags the Chiefs for a 9-8 finish and a close call on the tiebreaker for the last AFC playoff spot, but you just never know when Andy Reid is in charge.

Las Vegas – Vegas Baby, Vegas!  Truth be told, Red has never had much use for Las Vegas.  Everyone should see it once, but once is enough and Red has had much more than enough.  The worst team in the league last season is looking to rebuild behind Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza.  New HC Klint Kubiak also fresh of a championship season in Seattle is a good start as well. Backup QB Kirk Cousins should steady the ship. But the big question is: Can the Raiders sad sack O line keep Mendoza from having his career killed before it ever gets started? – Think David Carr in the Texans first couple of seasons.  Look for the Raiders to be the most improved team in the league in 2026, but that does not translate to much more than a mediocre 7-10 ending.