Chiefs: Winning the AFC West Race

Laddie Morse

With over half the games played in the Kansas City Chiefs 2023 season, it’s time to do some serious projecting. While I believe that these Chiefs are headed to the Playoffs, I’m not so sure they’ll end up in the Super Bowl. I know, I know… that’s not good news for many of you. However, getting these Chiefs to the playoffs is job one and they already appear primed to make that happen. Let’s take a look.

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Although the Broncos are coming off their Bye Week (last weekend), this coming weekend they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills and it’s not looking good for them. I’ve heard some doubt that the Bills will make the playoffs this year. The Bills are 5-and-4 and playing at Home, so they should be ready to make their own run for glory in the up and coming playoffs.

I’m projecting that the Chiefs will end up with a 14-and-3 record (or at least a 13-and-4 record), it means, for the Broncos to win the AFC West, K.C. would have to go 4-and-4 while DEN goes perfect at 9-and-0 giving them a final record of 12-and-5. If the Chiefs end up with an 11-and-6 record it might get them into the playoffs, but hosting another AFC Championship would not be likely. For the Broncos, it would be the best of all possible outcomes. The odds of this happening is not good. Not good at all.

For that to take place the Broncos would have to beat all of these teams (the final schedule):

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Tankathon.com says the Broncos have the 14th most difficult strength of schedule so… is it possible for them to go 10-and-0 in their remaining games? Sure, just as possible as it is for a human to lick their own elbows.

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The Raiders just beat the New York Giants 30-to-6 and travel back to N.Y. to take on the Jets this coming Sunday evening. They are one of the worst run organizations in the NFL and their owner, Mark Daivs, needs a new barber. Sorry, just had to go there. Davis hair style actually has nothing to do with the organization being run so badly… then again… if he can decide to cut his hair in a really bad bowl cut, maybe he has every prerequisite to run an NFL team into the ground. Which, is exactly what he’s done. Sure, they have a new-ish stadium, and a new-ish home in Las Vegas, but selling your team to the locals has proven to be much more than: location, location, location. What seems to be more of the case is: visiting NFL teams relay on: vacation, vacation, vacation… much more than his fans can put their own butts in seats at Allegiant Stadium.

For the 4-and-5 Raiders to win the West, they would have to go 7-and-1 the rest of the way and hope the Chiefs go 3-and-5, or worse. Tankathon.com has the Raiders with the 3rd most difficult strength of schedule the rest of the way, so it looks like the Raiders will do well to just reach .500.

Here’s what their remaining schedule looks like:

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The Chargers are coming off of two losses to the Cowboys and Chiefs then two victories over the Bears and Jets. Not a surprising outcome for a team that appears to be headed nowhere. The Chargers are the perennial preseason paper champions and have been that for years now. Now, the best they can offer is a great celebration (0:18):

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At least they know how to celebrate.

For them to over take the Chiefs they would have to finish the season with a 7-and-2 record while K.C. was sinking to a 3-and-5 record. Is it possible? I guess, but it doesn’t seem likely. They decided not to re-sign their best LB this past offseason and now he plays important snaps for the Chiefs. Drue Tranquill has become a critical piece in DC Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, a defense that is now one of the league’s best. Here’s the Chargers remaining schedule:

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Tankathon.com says the Chargers have the 13th most difficult strength of schedule the rest of the way.

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The Chiefs have lost games to the upstart Broncos — in their own stadium — and to the Detroit Lions, on opening day. The biggest questions marks for K.C. have to do with the offensive side of the ball. In years past, the offense was so dynamic the defense just had to keep games close and a win was a high probability. Now, the defense is one of the NFL’s best and the offense is needing to step up. Step up you say? Yes, Patrick Mahomes has been responsible for 11 turnovers this year, eight (8) interceptions and three (3) fumbles (two lost fumbles). That projects to his worst numbers, in a rather distinguished career.

Here’s the Chiefs remaining games this season:

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Tankathon.com say the Chiefs have the 17th most difficult strength of schedule in their remaining games.

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What’s your take? How do you think the Chiefs will finish up this season?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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