For the better part of the past decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have reigned supreme over the AFC West.
Beginning with the 2016 season, Andy Reid has guided Kansas City to nine straight AFC-West titles after he finish second in the division during his first three years in charge.
Advertisement
The other three teams in the AFC West largely served as cannon fodder over that span. The Denver Broncos struggled to adjust to the post-Peyton Manning era, the Las Vegas Raiders have experienced immense turnover to go along with a location change while the Los Angeles Chargers have seemed to boast the talent necessary to dethrone the Chiefs, but they have fallen short each time.
The stranglehold Patrick Mahomes & Co. have placed on the division has allowed them to experience favorable playoff pathways and in turn make seven straight AFC Championship Game appearances.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks on prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
But in 2025, the Chiefs’ intra-division dominance appears to be at risk of faltering.
Advertisement
Reid’s squad currently resides in third place at 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the AFC West, which puts it 2.5 games back of the first-place Broncos and a game behind the Chargers.
Denver picked up a divisional win over the Raiders on Thursday night and is considered the heavy favorite. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has already taken down all three of the teams in the division, but it still has to make trips to Mile High and Arrowhead Stadium. Las Vegas has struggled mightily, but with it pushing the Broncos to a three-point win earlier this week, the club proved that it is no pushover.
The depth within this quartet of teams is something rarely found in the NFL. Through Week 9, the West is the only AFC division to feature three teams above .500, with only the NFC North and West being able to match that mark.
Advertisement
With all of this being said, Mahomes and the Chiefs can begin to work towards making it ten straight division crowns when they visit Denver next Sunday following their bye week. That will be the teams’ first meeting of the season, and Kansas City can put a sizable dent in the Broncos’ advantage with a victory.
A home date with the Chargers, a Christmas Day home game with the Broncos and a season-ending visit to Las Vegas rounds out the remaining division schedule for Reid & Co.
Related: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Face Concerning Develpment After Loss to Bills
Related: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Fall in Tom Brady’s Power Rankings
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 7, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.