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Chiefs Predicted to Drop AFC West Division for First Time in 10 Years

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 8:58 AM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs' dominance has been so all-encompassing in the Patrick Mahomes era that it is most often discussed in terms of Super Bowls and AFC titles, whereas winning the AFC West Division has been all but an afterthought in the majority of those conversations for the better part of a decade.

That is beginning to change, however, with an injection of both talent and head coaching prowess across the division. Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton and Pete Carroll -- all of whom have coached teams to Super Bowl appearances in the past -- now lead the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.

Superstar talents like quarterback Justin Herbert in L.A. and running back Ashton Jeanty in the desert are entering their primes and expected to make big splashes in their NFL debuts. Meanwhile, Denver's defense is projected to be among the league's best in 2025 after the Broncos ended a nearly 10-year playoff drought in 2024 with rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm.

There is no question that things are getting tougher for Kansas City in its own division as Mahomes prepares to enter his ninth professional season. Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com predicted on Thursday, June 19, that the Chiefs will finally surrender the division crown after nine consecutive years residing on the AFC West throne.

The Chiefs have reigned over the division since 2016 and they've barely been challenged during most of the years that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been under center.

The Broncos have an elite defense, and it looks like they landed a franchise quarterback in Bo Nix in last year's draft. We know Payton can coach up the offense, especially as the Broncos add more playmakers. We've also seen how Denver gave Kansas City fits last season in Arrowhead, with a blocked field goal keeping them from securing an impressive upset.

Denver is good enough to win this division now. With the other teams also creating more resistance to the Chiefs -- who went 5-1 in the AFC West after resting their starters in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos -- Denver will earn its first crown since Peyton Manning was their quarterback.

The Broncos finished last season 10-7, which was only good enough for third in the division behind the Chargers at 11-6 and Kansas City at 15-2.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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