LOS ANGELES — The Chargers haven’t won the AFC West since 2009 but for the first time in nearly four years, the Chargers are favored by sports books to win the AFC West.

After a 2-0 start to the 2025 season, the Chargers have overtaken the Kansas City Chiefs in the division odds, marking the first time since Week 10 of the 2021 campaign that anyone but Kansas City has been favored to take the West. The Chiefs had been crowned AFC West champions in nine consecutive seasons and entered 2025 as the perennial favorite.

Kansas City’s surprising 0-2 start has shifted the betting landscape. The Chiefs, still carrying -170 odds to reach the postseason, are listed at +230 to win the division. Meanwhile, the Chargers stand at +100, with the Denver Broncos (+325) and Las Vegas Raiders (+1400) trailing behind, according to BetOnline.ag.

The odds movement reflects the broader shift in the Super Bowl picture. The Chargers’ Super Bowl hopes have strengthened significantly, as their futures line improved from 25-1 in the preseason to 18-1 entering Week 3. They now sit tied with the Rams and 49ers for the seventh-best odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LX.

The Buffalo Bills remain the overall Super Bowl favorite at +450, followed by the Baltimore Ravens (+550), Green Bay Packers (+700) and Philadelphia Eagles (+750). Despite their slow start, the Chiefs still boast the fifth-best championship odds at 12-1.

The Packers also overtook the Eagles as NFC favorites this week, opening at +325 to win the conference. It marks a rare mid-September shift in the futures market, one that underscores the volatility of the early season.

Not all teams are trending upward. The Steelers saw their Super Bowl odds fall from 33-1 to 55-1 after a home loss, while the Houston Texans, also 0-2, are not favored in the AFC South for the first time since 2023.

For the Chargers, who have long lived in the Chiefs’ shadow, the change in perception is striking. After years of being viewed as underachievers, Los Angeles has vaulted into contender status and is now positioned as the team to beat in the AFC West.

Whether the early-season momentum translates into ending Kansas City’s reign remains to be seen, but for the first time since 2021, the Chargers are in the driver’s seat.