NFL Week 17 Grades: AFC West 

Offense: B+

The first three quarters were clunky and way too conservative, but the only thing that matters in December is whether you can finish – and Bo Nix finished. Spreading touches around kept Kansas City from keying on one guy, and it gave Denver enough answers to avoid the one-dimensional trap. It wasn’t a fireworks show, but it was a closer’s offense: survive, stay in it, then land the final punch.

Defense: A-

Denver did exactly what competent teams do against a third-string QB and a limping offense: choke the oxygen out of the game and don’t hand out free explosives. They controlled the line of scrimmage, kept the Chiefs boxed in, and forced Kansas City to live in short-yardage misery. You can nitpick a short-field score, but the bigger story is the defense made this game boring – and boring is deadly when the other team can’t move.

Overall: A-

Road win at Arrowhead, ended the drought, and handled business without playing their cleanest game – those are big-boy results. The coaching staff didn’t panic, the team didn’t chase style points, and the QB delivered when the game tightened. That’s playoff posture, even if the offense still has another gear it needs to find. Now, they battle the Chargers in Week 18 to remain the number one seed in the AFC and clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Texans)

Offense: C+

The Chargers played offense like they were trying to remember the playbook – out of rhythm early, behind early, and constantly chasing the game. The protection and timing were inconsistent, and the run game didn’t give them a steady foundation to lean on. They finally made it interesting late, but living on late surges is not an offensive identity – it’s a risky habit.

Defense: C

The defense got burned by explosives, and that’s the one thing you can’t do if you want to beat playoff-caliber teams. They settled in and made some plays, but the early damage forced the Chargers to play from behind and made every possession feel like a crisis. You don’t get bonus points for playing better later when you spot a good team chunk plays and lose the game because of it.

Overall: C

The Chargers showed fight, but they didn’t show control, and those aren’t the same thing. Herbert’s legs and late urgency kept the final score respectable, but the game script was Houston’s from the jump. This team is talented enough to scare people – when they don’t hand out early-game advantages.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Broncos)

Offense: D

This was a pulse-check offense, and it failed the test – no rhythm, no identity, and no urgency until it was basically over. The inability to sustain drives left the defense on the field forever, and the offense never returned the favor. And at this point, why not see what you have in Brashard Smith? Hint: he’s special.

Defense: B

The defense is the only reason this wasn’t a full-body embarrassment, because they kept Denver within reach and created an interception that turned into points. They tackled well enough, forced long drives, and made the Broncos earn everything instead of giving up cheap ones. But when your offense can’t stay on the field, even a solid defensive effort turns into a slow, exhausting loss.

Overall: C-

It looked like a team sleepwalking – uninspired, uninterested, and basically waiting for the calendar to flip. The defense showed some pride, but the rest felt like end-of-season cruise control.

Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Giants)

Offense: D-

“No Bowers, no problem” was the only bright spot, because Michael Mayer continues to show he can ball, but the rest of the offense was a mess. The Raiders couldn’t sustain drives, couldn’t win third down, and basically treated every series like a coin flip. A couple of completions don’t change the truth: this unit is brutal, and it looks like it knows it.

Defense: F

No Maxx Crosby, no teeth – period. The pass rush disappeared, the edges were soft, and the Giants got comfortable way too fast for a game this late in the season. When your defense can’t create pressure or eliminate big momentum swings, you’re not defending – you’re just waiting for 0:00..

Overall: F

This was a full collapse: ugly start, ugly middle, ugly finish, and the vibes matched the scoreboard. Even when they briefly made it a game, special teams and coverage mistakes poured gasoline on the fire. Ten straight losses isn’t just bad luck – it’s organizational rot wearing shoulder pads.