Welcome back to my weekly AFC West check-in – a quick, data-driven power ranking that tracks how the divisional shifts from Sunday to Sunday. Rankings aren’t box-score trophies – they’re context-adjusted judgments on where these teams are at and who’s sitting pole week to week.
Here’s how I stack the AFC West after 10 weeks, and why.
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4. Las Vegas Raiders
Oct 19, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) passes the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
The Raiders sit 2-7 because the offense keeps wasting good defensive work, and special teams miscues keep biting them. A 188-yard night with four third-down conversions, a blocked punt, plus a late miss is why a winnable game in Denver turned into another rerun loss. Geno Smith took six sacks and rarely saw clean answers while the run game stalled after the opening punch. That is the profile of a team that battles but blinks in the moments that decide records.
Week 11 Lookahead: (Cowboys at Raiders, Mon 11/17) Expect a Quinnen Williams problem and a game script that demands quick game, chips, and up-tempo to keep pace. If Vegas leans into Ashton Jeanty on early downs and cleans up the third phase, they may be able to keep Dallas in a fistfight at Allegiant.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
5-4 with a bye is not panic, but it is pressure, and the post-bye Andy Reid bump needs to show up fast. The defense remains the floor while the offense has been more choppy than nuclear, which is why seeding leverage is still up for grabs. The road to fixing it is simple and ruthless: cleaner protection, more efficient red zone sequencing, and Mahomes on schedule on third downs. That gets tested immediately by the AFC West’s best defense in altitude.
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Week 11 Lookahead: (Chiefs at Broncos, Sun 11/16) Mile High is a litmus test for the reset week – handle pressure, win first downs, and force Bo Nix to chase. Drop this one, and the margin for a top-two seed goes from thin to barely there.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Oct 19, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
7-3 after a 25-10 prime-time clamp job says the identity is maturing: defense, ground game, and situational poise. Kimani Vidal owned the pace while Justin Herbert played clean ball, and Cameron Dicker’s 59-yarder underlined the swagger. Stack that with top-ten efficiency on both side,s and you have playoff footprints all over it.This team is back after a slight skid, and suddenly the fight for the division crown looks that much thicker.
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Week 11 Lookahead: (Chargers at Jaguars, Sun 11/16) Jacksonville’s speed on defense makes this a trench and leverage game. If the Bolts keep the ball secure and squeeze Lawrence on third and medium, the bye in Week 12 becomes a victory lap.
1. Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) makes a pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
8-2 with a seven-game heater is the résumé, and a 10-7 rock fight on a short week shows they can win ugly when needed. The defense strangled Las Vegas with six sacks and stingy yardage, while the offense survived its sloppiest night on the strength of the run game and field position. That balance is what they’ll lean on down the stretch. Until someone drags them out of their phone booth, Denver sits on top of this division.
Week 11 Lookahead: (Chiefs at Broncos, Sun 11/16) Bottle the same rush plan and force Kansas City into third and long, then let the crowd and pass rush finish the job. If Bo Nix protects the football and the backs control tempo, Denver tightens its grip on the West.
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