AFC West Standings
AFC West Standings

AFC West Standings: Who’s Leading the Pack?

AFC West Standings are unavailable as the 2024 NFL season hasn’t started. The division is highly competitive with teams like the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos vying for the title. Stay tuned for updates once the season begins.

AFC West Standings
AFC West Standings

What is the AFC West?

The AFC West is one of the four divisions in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). Known for its intense rivalries and high-scoring games, the division has consistently produced some of the league’s most exciting teams.

AFC West

CategoryDetails
ConferenceAmerican Football Conference (AFC)
LeagueNational Football League (NFL)
SportAmerican Football
Founded1960 (as the American Football League Western Division)
Number of Teams4
CountryUnited States
Most Recent Champion(s)Kansas City Chiefs (16th title)
Most TitlesKansas City Chiefs (16 titles)
AFC West

Teams in the AFC West

  • Kansas City Chiefs: 

The defending Super Bowl champions and perennial division favorites.

  • Los Angeles Chargers: 

A talented team with high expectations and a history of playoff appearances.

  • Las Vegas Raiders:

 A franchise with a passionate fanbase and a rich history, but recent struggles have been a challenge.

Teams in the AFC West
Teams in the AFC West
  • Denver Broncos: 

A storied organization with Super Bowl victories, but recent seasons have been inconsistent.

Teams in the AFC West Record

#TeamNicknameGames PlayedWinsLossesTiesPoints ScoredYards GainedPoints per GameYards AllowedPoints AllowedPoints Allowed per Game
1BroncosBroncos84346936862,11618,61522.117,16420.416,508
2ChiefsChiefs84344539172,08218,36521.817,29820.516,019
3RaidersRaiders84342840962,05817,88321.218,35821.815,767
4ChargersChargers84339744152,14618,49821.918,47621.916,507
5BuccaneersBuccaneers140140151258.941229.4191
6SeahawksSeahawks39018620409217,89720.28,22821.17,043
Teams in the AFC West Record

Analysis of the Standings

Chiefs Dominance

The Kansas City Chiefs have once again established themselves as the dominant force in the AFC West. Led by the dynamic duo of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have consistently showcased their offensive firepower and defensive resilience.

Analysis of the Standings
Analysis of the Standings

Chargers on the Rise

The Los Angeles Chargers have shown significant improvement in recent seasons. With a high-powered offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert and a talented roster, the Chargers are poised to challenge the Chiefs for the division title.

Raiders Struggling

The Las Vegas Raiders have faced challenges in recent years. Despite having talented players, the team has struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball.

Broncos Looking to Bounce Back

The Denver Broncos are in the midst of a rebuild. With a new coaching staff and a focus on building a strong foundation, the Broncos aim to return to their winning ways.

Factors Affecting AFC West Standings

Several factors contribute to the ever-changing AFC West standings.

Quarterback Play

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and the AFC West is no exception. Teams with elite quarterbacks, like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, have a significant advantage.

Coaching Staff

Effective coaching is crucial for success. A strong coaching staff can maximize player talent, develop game plans, and make crucial in-game adjustments.

Factors Affecting AFC West Standings
Factors Affecting AFC West Standings

Injuries

Injuries can derail a team’s season. Losing key players can disrupt offensive and defensive schemes, impacting overall performance.

Key Players

The presence of star players can elevate a team’s performance. Key players on both sides of the ball can make a significant difference in the outcome of games.

Predictions for the Rest of the Season

While the Chiefs are currently the favorites to win the division, the AFC West is highly competitive. The Chargers are expected to push the Chiefs for the top spot, while the Raiders and Broncos will battle for the remaining playoff spot. The division race promises to be exciting and unpredictable as the season progresse

Current AFC West Division champions

SeasonTeamRecordPlayoff Results
1960Los Angeles Chargers (1)10–4Lost AFL Championship (at Oilers) 16–24
1961San Diego Chargers (2)12–2Lost AFL Championship (Oilers) 3–10
1962Dallas Texans (1)11–3Won AFL Championship (Oilers) 20–17 (2OT)
1963San Diego Chargers (3)11–3Won AFL Championship (Patriots) 51–10
1964San Diego Chargers (4)8–5–1Lost AFL Championship (at Bills) 7–20
1965San Diego Chargers (5)9–2–3Lost AFL Championship (Bills) 0–23
1966Kansas City Chiefs (2)11–2–1Won AFL Championship (Bills) 31–7
Lost Super Bowl I (vs. Packers) 10–35
1967Oakland Raiders (1)13–1Won AFL Championship (Oilers) 40–7
Lost Super Bowl II (vs. Packers) 14–33
1968Oakland Raiders (2)12–2Won Western Division playoff (Chiefs) 41–6
Lost AFL Championship (at Jets) 23–27
1969Oakland Raiders (3)12–1–1Won Divisional playoffs (Oilers) 56–7
Lost AFL Championship (Chiefs) 7–17
1970Oakland Raiders (4)8–4–2Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 21–14
Lost AFC Championship (at Colts) 17–27
1971Kansas City Chiefs (3)10–3–1Lost Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 24–27 (2OT)
1972Oakland Raiders (5)10–3–1Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 7–13
1973Oakland Raiders (6)9–4Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 33–14
Lost AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 10–27
1974Oakland Raiders (7)12–2Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 28–26
Lost AFC Championship (Steelers) 13–24
1975Oakland Raiders (8)11–3Won Divisional playoffs (Bengals) 31–28
Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 10–16
1976Oakland Raiders (9)13–1Won Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 24–21
Won AFC Championship (Steelers) 24–7
Won Super Bowl XI (vs. Vikings) 32–14
1977Denver Broncos (1)12–2Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 34–21
Won AFC Championship (Raiders) 20–17
Lost Super Bowl XII (vs. Cowboys) 10–27
1978Denver Broncos (2)10–6Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 10–33
1979San Diego Chargers (6)12–4Lost Divisional playoffs (Oilers) 14–17
1980San Diego Chargers (7)11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 20–14
Lost AFC Championship (Raiders) 27–34
1981San Diego Chargers (8)10–6Won Divisional playoffs (at Dolphins) 41–38 (OT)
Lost AFC Championship (at Bengals) 7–27
1982Los Angeles Raiders (9)8–1Won First Round playoffs (Browns) 27–10
Lost Second Round playoffs (Jets) 14–17
1983Los Angeles Raiders (10)12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 38–10
Won AFC Championship (Seahawks) 30–14
Won Super Bowl XVIII (vs. Redskins) 38–9
1984Denver Broncos (3)13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 17–24
1985Los Angeles Raiders (11)12–4Lost Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 20–27
1986Denver Broncos (4)11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 22–17
Won AFC Championship (at Browns) 23–20 (OT)
Lost Super Bowl XXI (vs. Giants) 20–39
1987Denver Broncos (5)10–4–1Won Divisional playoffs (Oilers) 34–10
Won AFC Championship (Browns) 38–33
Lost Super Bowl XXII (vs. Redskins) 10–42
1988Seattle Seahawks (1)9–7Lost Divisional playoffs (at Bengals) 13–21
1989Denver Broncos (6)11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 24–23
Won AFC Championship (Browns) 37–21
Lost Super Bowl XXIV (vs. 49ers) 10–55
1990Los Angeles Raiders (12)12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Bengals) 20–10
Lost AFC Championship (at Bills) 3–51
1991Denver Broncos (7)12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Oilers) 26–24
Lost AFC Championship (at Bills) 7–10
1992San Diego Chargers (9)11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Chiefs) 17–0
Lost Divisional playoffs (at Dolphins) 0–31
1993Kansas City Chiefs (4)11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 27–24 (OT)
Won Divisional playoffs (at Oilers) 28–20
1994San Diego Chargers11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 22–21; Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 17–13; Lost Super Bowl XXIX (vs. 49ers) 26–49
1995Kansas City Chiefs13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Colts) 7–10
1996Denver Broncos13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Jaguars) 27–30
1997Kansas City Chiefs13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Broncos) 10–14
1998Denver Broncos14–2Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 38–3; Won AFC Championship (Jets) 23–10; Won Super Bowl XXXIII (vs. Falcons) 34–19
1999Seattle Seahawks9–7Lost Wild Card playoffs (Dolphins) 17–20
2000Oakland Raiders12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Dolphins) 27–0; Lost AFC Championship (Ravens) 3–16
2001Oakland Raiders10–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Jets) 38–24; Lost Divisional playoffs (at Patriots) 13–16 (OT)
2002Oakland Raiders11–5Won Divisional playoffs (Jets) 30–10; Won AFC Championship (Titans) 41–24; Lost Super Bowl XXXVII (vs. Buccaneers) 21–48
2003Kansas City Chiefs13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Colts) 31–38
2004San Diego Chargers12–4Lost Wild Card playoffs (Jets) 17–20 (OT)
2005Denver Broncos13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 27–13; Lost AFC Championship (Steelers) 17–34
2006San Diego Chargers14–2Lost Divisional playoffs (Patriots) 21–24
2007San Diego Chargers11–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Titans) 17–6; Won Divisional playoffs (at Colts) 28–24; Lost AFC Championship (at Patriots) 12–21
2008San Diego Chargers8–8Won Wild Card playoffs (Colts) 23–17 (OT); Lost Divisional playoffs (at Steelers) 24–35
2009San Diego Chargers13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Jets) 14–17
2010Kansas City Chiefs10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Ravens) 7–30
2011Denver Broncos8–8Won Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 29–23 (OT); Lost Divisional playoffs (at Patriots) 10–45
2012Denver Broncos13–3Lost Divisional playoffs (Ravens) 35–38 (2OT)
2013Denver Broncos13–3Won Divisional playoffs (Chargers) 24–17; Won AFC Championship (Patriots) 26–16; Lost Super Bowl XLVIII (vs. Seahawks) 8–43
2014Denver Broncos12–4Lost Divisional playoffs (Colts) 13–24
2015Denver Broncos12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 23–16; Won AFC Championship (Patriots) 20–18; Won Super Bowl 50 (vs. Panthers) 24–10
2016Kansas City Chiefs12–4Lost Divisional playoffs (Steelers) 16–18
2017Kansas City Chiefs10–6Lost Wild Card playoffs (Titans) 21–22
2018Kansas City Chiefs12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Colts) 31–13; Lost AFC Championship (Patriots) 31–37 (OT)
2019Kansas City Chiefs12–4Won Divisional playoffs (Texans) 51–31; Won AFC Championship (Titans) 35–24; Won Super Bowl LIV (vs. 49ers) 31–20
2020Kansas City Chiefs14–2Won Divisional playoffs (Browns) 22–17; Won AFC Championship (Bills) 38–24; Lost Super Bowl LV (vs. Buccaneers) 9–31
2021Kansas City Chiefs12–5Won Wild Card playoffs (Steelers) 42–21; Won Divisional playoffs (Bills) 42–36 (OT); Lost AFC Championship (Bengals) 24–27 (OT)
2022Kansas City Chiefs14–3Won Divisional playoffs (Jaguars) 27–20; Won AFC Championship (Bengals) 23–20; Won Super Bowl LVII (vs. Eagles) 38–35
2023Kansas City Chiefs11–6Won Wild Card playoffs (Dolphins) 26–7; Won Divisional playoffs (at Bills) 27–24; Won AFC Championship (at Ravens) 17–10; Won Super Bowl LVIII (vs. 49ers) 25–22 (OT)

Key Matchups to Watch

The AFC West is a division where every game carries significant weight. Here are some key matchups that could determine the division title:

  • Chiefs vs. Chargers: 

This rivalry has intensified in recent years with both teams boasting high-powered offenses. These games are often decided by the smallest of margins.

  • Chiefs vs. Raiders:

A classic AFC West rivalry, these games are always filled with emotion and intensity. The Raiders will look to upset the Chiefs and gain ground in the division.

  • Chargers vs. Raiders: 

This matchup has the potential to be a playoff-like atmosphere. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot, and these games could be crucial in determining who makes the postseason.

  • Denver Broncos vs. Any AFC West Opponent:

 The Broncos are rebuilding, but they are capable of pulling off upsets. Any win against a division rival would be a significant boost to their morale and confidence.

The Wild Card Race

While the AFC West is highly competitive, it’s also possible that a team could miss out on the division title but still secure a wildcard spot. The Chargers and Raiders, in particular, will be focused on staying in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Impact of Trades and Free Agency

The NFL offseason is a time of significant roster turnover. Teams acquire new talent through trades and free agency, which can dramatically impact the balance of power within the division. Any major moves made by AFC West teams will have ripple effects throughout the conference.

Conclusion

The AFC West is shaping up to be one of the most exciting divisions in football. With talented quarterbacks, dynamic offenses, and fierce rivalries, fans are in for a thrilling ride. As the season progresses, the competition will only intensify, making every game a must-watch.

FAQs: AFC West

General Questions

  • What teams are in the AFC West?

The AFC West consists of the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Denver Broncos.

  • Who is the current favorite to win the AFC West?

The Kansas City Chiefs are typically considered the favorites due to their recent dominance and star power.

  • When does the NFL season start?

The NFL season typically starts in early September.

Team-Specific Questions

  • Who is the quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers?

Justin Herbert is the quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers.

  • What challenges do the Denver Broncos face?

The Denver Broncos have been rebuilding in recent years and face challenges in establishing consistency and finding a franchise quarterback.

  • How has the Las Vegas Raiders’ performance been?

The Las Vegas Raiders have experienced some inconsistencies in recent seasons and are aiming to improve their overall performance.

Fan Questions

  • How can I watch AFC West games?

AFC West games are typically broadcast on national television networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. Check your local listings for specific game times and channels.

  • Where can I find AFC West standings and schedules?

You can find AFC West standings and schedules on various sports websites and apps, as well as on the official NFL website.

  • What makes the AFC West so competitive?

The AFC West is known for its intense rivalries, high-scoring games, and the presence of multiple talented teams, making it one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL.

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