The Kansas City Chiefs have AFC West champions for nine consecutive seasons, dating back to 2016. Since then, they have been an almost unstoppable tear, winning three Super Bowls – appearing in five – and taking home the division title almost by formality for almost a decade.
However, all things eventually come to an end – if only temporarily – and Nick Kosmider of The Athletic predicts that it could well be the Chiefs’ time to be dethroned, at least with regards to the AFC west pinnacle.
Kosmider believes that after nine years of KC reign, the Denver Broncos will triumph to win the division in 2025.
‘Bold’ Prediction Has Denver Deny The Chiefs A 10th Straight AFC West Title
“Denver has not won its division in 10 years.” Kosmider wrote on Saturday as a “bold” prediction heading into the 2025 season, “The last nine titles belong to the Kansas City Chiefs, who will probably be viewed as the favorites as long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are working together. But Denver has its most complete roster since winning the Super Bowl in 2015. Its defense may be footballâs best after adding Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga to a unit that was already first in EPA per snap in 2024.”
Kosmider also contends that the projected improvement of the Broncos’ offense in both the run and passing game could ultimately tip the balance in favor of Denver.
“Bo Nix is coming off an impressive rookie season and now has more pass-catching targets (hello, Evan Engram) and a running game that should be much improved thanks to the additions of RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins.” Kosmider continued. “The West will be a gauntlet, but the Broncos, in Sean Paytonâs third season, have enough to finally loosen Kansas Cityâs dominant grip on the division.”
Should The Chiefs Be Favored To Win The Division
Kosmider’s projection is very much as the title suggests, “bold”. But it is also not without merit.
For years, the Chiefs have been fairly overwhelming preseason favorites to take home the division by the bookmakers, but coming into 2025 off a Super Bowl loss and with the emergence of both the Chargers and Broncos, their price has been set at evens (-110) or with around a 50% chance of winning the division, with the Broncos and Chargers both slightly shy of 25% each, and the Raiders with minimal likelihood.
So, if the sportsbooks are to be trusted, the Chiefs should still be favored. Yet there are worries from some about the state of the offensive line in the aftermath of a rambunctious thrashing by the Eagles, which subsequently saw the departure of arguably their best lineman, Joe Thuney.
The Broncos – and indeed the Chargers, are certainly dangerous threats, and in the second years of their rebuilds under Denver’s new quarterback – Nix – and LA’s new head coach, Jim Harbaugh, could both outperform their already impressive 2024 playoff seasons.
But the Chiefs will still enter the year as very much the team to beat, as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid attempt to once again further cement their legacy with another Lombardi Trophy.
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