Chiefs: Tied for First in the AFC West

Laddie Morse

Winning the West should be a breeze, right? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how well the Kansas City Chiefs do when the play their division rivals. If they can nail down the West, then it becomes a matter of winning their conference. Right now, they’re not winning the conference, but only two weeks have been played so we’ll give that some time. As far as the AFC West is concerned, let’s take a look:

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I don’t know why ESPN had the Raiders listed first, but I switched them. Here’s how each team has done so far this year:

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Eric Bieniemy, now Washington’s OC, did the Chiefs a favor by helping to beat the Broncos 35-to-33 on Sunday evening on Sunday Night Football. With the Broncos taking a nose dive, it appears they won’t be a tough team to beat as the Chiefs move forward. Let’s take a look at each team’s next three opponents.

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So far, the Raiders have won one and lost one. I still don’t see them as a threat to win the AFC West though. Yu have to wonder how someone like WR Davante Adams feel coming over from the Packers a year ago so he could play with his QB friend Derek Carr, who has now left to be the QB of the New Orleans Saints. His Raiders barely beat the Broncos in Denver a week ago and then lost big to the Bills on Sunday, 38-to-10. He signed a five-year deal just one year ago so he has three more year after this one on that contract. Yikes.

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I don’t know of anyone in Kansas City who sees the Broncos as a threat to the Chiefs. I do know quite a few who see them as laughing-stocks. With new head coach Sean Payton leading the way now, you would think things will be turning around, but they sure haven’t so far. Last season the Broncos finished 5-and-12 and appear to be headed for a similar record this season. They also finished last in the AFC West and that looks like it will be their fate again this year. With Home losses to the Raiders (17-to-16) and the Washington Commanders, (35-to-33) they are now facing the strong likelihood of going 1-and-4 in their first 5 games as they are now headed to Miami to play the Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium, then on the Bears at Soldier Field (the only possible win as I see it) then they face the New York Jets in New York. Why the focus on their first five games… because, they face the Chiefs in two out of their next three weeks beginning with a game in Arrowhead in Week 6, on a Thursday evening and only four days after they face the Jets.

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The only team that I see as a potential threat to the Chiefs is the Los Angeles Chargers. Yet, they’ve lost their first two games to the Dolphins (36-to-34) and to the Titans (27-to-24). While we have come to expect the Chiefs to win their close games, their first game against the Lions didn’t turn out that way… but the Chargers haven’t quite learned that lesson yet. While I ma picking the 0-and-2 Vikings to win the NFC North, I believe David Bell is picking the 1-and-1 Packers to win that division. The Chargers travel to the Minnesota Vikings to play them in Minnesota then they travel to the Raiders to face them in Vegas… then an early Bye Week in Week Five (5)… followed by a Home Game against the Dallas Cowboys, who has proven to be a real threat to all teams they face this year. Why the focus… the Chargers very next game is against the Chiefs, in Arrowhead. So, a lot may be decided by the end of the Chiefs game with them in Week 7, on October 22.

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The Chiefs are on their way back from starting games without their star DT Chris Jones. Now that he’s back in the works, the rest of the Chiefs games should be winnable. Especially since TE Travis Kelce is back at it as well. The Chiefs next three games against the Bears, the Jets and the Vikings should all be winnable games followed by games against the Broncos and then the Chargers. The Chiefs get their Bye Week in Week Ten, which is a great time to make any changes they’d like to make plus get their starters some rest.

Also, if you haven’t heard by now, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have restructured his deal. He’ll make $210.6M over four years to once again become the highest paid player in the NFL. The advantage for the team is that they get some cap relief by doing this, while PMII gets more guaranteed money… immediately (2:18).

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The Chiefs and Mahomes plan on re-visiting the agreement after the 2026 season. He may well have a couple more MVPs and Super Bowl rings under his belt by then.

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Happy belated Birthday, sir!

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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