AFC West Preview: Can the Kansas City Chiefs avoid a Super Bowl hangover?
The Kansas City Chiefs are the favorite to win the AFC West for the eighth consecutive year at -165 odds.
The Los Angeles Chargers are +340 to win the AFC West, followed by the Denver Broncos (+550) and the Las Vegas Raiders (+1200).
The Broncos joined the Chiefs as the last team to win the AFC West, winning five straight division titles from 2011 to 2015.
You have to go back to 2009 to find a division champion that wasn't the Chiefs or Broncos. While playing in San Diego, the Chargers won the AFC West title in four consecutive seasons from 2006-2009.
The Raiders haven't won a division title in two decades, and they haven't won an AFC West title since moving to Sin City. The Raiders last won the AFC West in 2002, ending the Oakland Raiders' streak of three straight division titles.
Kansas City Chiefs: Championship Team Defeated
- AFC West Odds: -165
- Super Bowl Odds: 600
- 2022 Balance Sheet: 14-3
- 2023 Win Total: 11.5 o/u
Over the past four seasons, the Chiefs have won two Super Bowls and finished second once, thanks to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and key players. Coach Andy Reid.The Chiefs won Super Bowl LIFVII in what was called a transition year with a very young team.
Defensive standout Chris Jones is a contract holder, so that's something to keep an eye on.
The Chiefs are once again the team to beat in the conference, division and league. However, winning Super Bowls in consecutive seasons is an almost impossible task these days. The New England Patriots were the last team to win back-to-back championships in 2004.
The Chiefs must shake off their Super Bowl hangover and adjust to a new offensive coordinator. Eric Bieniemy has been the NFL's top OC over the past few seasons, and the Washington Commanders will offer him a huge raise if he leaves Kansas City.
Matt Nagy returns to Chief as OC. He served as the OC for two seasons in 2016-17 before becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Nagy was fired after four seasons in Chicago. Reid brought Nagy back as quarterbacks coach last year. When Bieniemy left for Washington, Reid promoted Nagy to his old OC position.
The Chiefs are the consensus favorite at +600 to win the Super Bowl and +350 to win their fourth AFC title in the past five years. The Chiefs have an 11.5 win/loss total this season, tying them with the Philadelphia Eagles as the top projected win team on DraftKings.
Los Angeles Chargers: Boltz’s best chance to usurp KC
- AFC West Odds: +340
- Super Bowl Odds: 2500
- 2022 Record: 10-7
- 2023 Win Total: 9.5 o/u
The Chargers are +340 to win the AFC West. They are the Chiefs' toughest rival and the best bet to win the AFC West this year.
Quarterback Justin Herbert played most of last season with fractured rib cartilage but still led the Chargers to 10 wins and a wild-card berth. The Chargers didn't get far, getting picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars on wild-card weekend.
Running back Austin Ekeler is one of the NFL's top dual threats, but he believes he's underpaid. When offseason extension talks fell through, he requested a trade. Unwilling to trade one of their best offensive weapons, the Chargers reworked the final year of his contract, which now includes an additional $1.75 million in realizable incentives.
The Chargers have a dynamic wide receiver tandem in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. If both men are healthy, they could be one of the top tandems in the NFL, but health is a major concern. Allen missed seven games last season and Williams missed four regular season games and one playoff game with a back injury.
The Chargers used a late first-round pick out of TCU to select Quentin Johnston. Johnston is one of the best rookie wide receivers and ideal insurance against injuries to Allen and Williams.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton, Rockies’ savior
- AFC West Odds: +550
- Super Bowl Odds: 4500
- 2022 Record: 5-12
- 2023 Win Total: 8.5 o/u
Sean Payton is the new sheriff in town, and he's cleaning up the mess after a disastrous 2022 season, which included firing rookie head coach Nathaniel Hague at the end of the season Kurt. The Broncos spent the most money in the NFL on guaranteed free-agent contracts this offseason and bolstered an offensive line that faltered last season.
The Broncos have a strong defense, but quarterback Russell Wilson is a big question mark. Wilson was plagued by injuries last season and was unable to grasp the key points of the offense. Payton took the Broncos job because he wanted to coach a team with a star quarterback. Fans are curious if Wilson is truly done, or if Payton can help Wilson resurrect his career after a disappointing first season in Denver.
The Broncos have an unlucky wide receiver room. They once again enter the season with multiple wide receivers injured. Tim Patrick is out for the season with an Achilles injury. K.J. Hamler has a heart condition, and their best receiver, Jerry Jeudy, will miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury.
There's no shortage of hippies in Colorado, so maybe the Broncos could hire a healing energy expert to clear up the bad vibes by burning sage in the reception room. Rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. will get a chance to showcase his skills as he climbs the rankings during a preseason filled with injuries.
Even after Payton took over as head coach, oddsmakers didn't have much confidence in the Broncos. The Broncos' win total is 8.5 o/u, an improvement from last year's five wins. But bookmakers don't believe they can be a playoff team.
Las Vegas Strategy: Good Luck Next Year
- AFC West Odds: +1200
- Super Bowl Odds: 8000
- 2022 Balance Sheet: 6-11
- 2023 Win Total: 6.5 o/u
Avoid betting on the Raiders in the futures market unless you want to stop them. The Raiders have a +300 chance to make the playoffs, according to DraftKings prop betting. The Raiders are the team most likely to miss the playoffs at -475.
Even the addition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo wasn't enough to convince prospective bettors. The Raiders parted ways with Derek Carr in favor of Jimmy G., but All-Pro wide receiver Devante Adams is sick and star running back Josh Jacobs is in painful contract denial Among .
Josh McDaniels was a great offensive coordinator during his tenure with the New England Patriots, working with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. However, McDaniels struggled as a head coach. In 2022, he managed just six wins in his first season with the Raiders.
The Raiders are the worst team in every division, including the defending Super Bowl champions. They face a tough schedule in the first half of the season and will likely be 2-10 entering the bye week in early December. It was then that Jacobs ended his resistance and rejoined his group.
The last five games have been tough as well, with the Raiders struggling to get to four wins this season.
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