Breaking down the AFC West: Are the Broncos good enough to challenge the Chiefs?

David Wilson, Miami Herald on Aug 29, 2025

Published in Football

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The 2025 NFL season is set to get underway on Sept. 4 when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys.

The Miami Herald broke down each division and continues with the AFC West, looking at the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, L.A. Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

— Coach: Sean Payton (third season with the Broncos; 170-105 in the regular season, 9-9 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 10-7 (third in the division), lost in the AFC wild-card round to the Bills

— Key additions: RB J.K. Dobbins, RB RJ Harvey, TE Evan Engram, LB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga

— Key subtractions: RB Javonte Williams, LB Cody Barton

— Looking ahead: The Broncos are a trendy dark-horse pick in the American Football Conference for a reason: They might just have the best defense in the league. Superstar cornerback Pat Surtain II won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award last season, and there aren’t many gaps anywhere else on the defense with proven players everywhere after plucking star linebacker Dre Greenlaw and star safety Talanoa Hufanga away from the 49ers. At the same time, quarterback Bo Nix exceeded expectations as a rookie and Denver got him even more help for Year 2, adding tight end Evan Engram and running back J.K. Dobbins in free agency, and picking running back RJ Harvey in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Kansas City Chiefs

— Coach: Andy Reid (13th season with the Chiefs; 273-146-1 in the regular season, 28-17 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 15-2 (first in the division), lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles

— Key additions: T Josh Simmons, DE Ashton Gillotte, DT Omarr Noran-Lott, CB Kristian Fulton, CB Nohl Williams

— Key subtractions: WR DeAndre Hopkins, G Joe Thuney, DT Tershawn Wharton, S Justin Reid

— Looking ahead: No 15-win conference champion was ever scrutinized more than the Chiefs last year, but that’s what happens when the expectations are Super Bowl or bust. For Kansas City, last season turned into a bust in Super Bowl 59, getting pounded by the Eagles in New Orleans to miss out on the NFL’s first three-peat. A fourth straight trip to the Super Bowl is well within reason for the Chiefs, though: Patrick Mahomes is still arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, their defense is still loaded with stars like defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton, and their offensive line is still one of the best in the league, with superstar center Creed Humphrey and star guard Trey Smith paving the way. If there was anything to learn from last season it is to never count out Kansas City.

Las Vegas Raiders

— Coach: Pete Carroll (first season with the Raiders; 170-120-1 in the regular season, 11-11 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 4-13 (fourth in the division)

— Key additions: RB Ashton Jeanty, WR Jack Bech, T Caleb Rogers, CB Darien Porter, S Jeremy Chinn, WR Amari Cooper

— Key subtractions: DT Christian Wilkins, LB Robert Spillane, CB Nate Hobbs, S Tre’von Moehrig

— Looking ahead: Even though their roster isn’t exactly inspiring, the Raiders fit the bill for a team poised for a leap because they upgraded massively at coach at quarterback. Coach Pete Carroll takes over after spending a year out of coaching and quarterback Geno Smith replaces a revolving door of mediocre quarterbacks to give Las Vegas a boost at perhaps the two most important spots in the organization. The Raiders also have the best tight end in the league in Brock Bowers and spent the No. 6 pick of the 2025 NFL draft on star running back Ashton Jeanty. At the very least, Las Vegas should be much more entertaining than they were last year.

Los Angeles Chargers

— Coach: Jim Harbaugh (second season with the Chargers; 55-25-1 in the regular season, 5-4 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 11-6 (second in the division), lost in the AFC wild-card round to the Bills

— Key additions: RB Omarion Hampton, RB Najee Harris, WR Keenan Allen, G Mekhi Becton, LB Kyle Kennard

— Key subtractions: RB J.K. Dobbins, DE Joey Bosa, DT Poona Ford, CB Kristian Fulton, Asante Samuel Jr.

— Looking ahead: Coach Jim Harbaugh in his first year with the Chargers did what he always does: He won. Now, he’ll be tasked with finally getting Justin Herbert to win in the postseason. The star quarterback has to start winning soon and is about out of excuses. Los Angeles got him plenty of help this offseason, signing running back Najee Harris and guard Mekhi Becton, bringing back wide receiver Keenan Allen after a one-year sojourn with the Bears and drafting running back Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.