NFL 2024 AFC West Analysis, Preview & Predictions: Can Anyone Dethrone Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs?

The Denver Broncos' eight-game winning streak last season seemed more like a fluke driven by an unsustainable turnover rate rather than a true reflection of their talent. Their 2-4 record in the final six weeks was a more accurate gauge of their capabilities. This year, their roster hasn't improved – if anything, it might be worse.

The Broncos have entered a new era in head coach Sean Payton's second year with the team. The Broncos traded wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and cut safety Justin Simmons this offseason. They also let center Lloyd Cushenberry III to walk into free agency.

Their acquisition of Russell Wilson proved to be nothing more than the largest dead cap figure in NFL history, forcing them to rebuild and choose a completely new franchise quarterback: Oregon's Bo Nix with the 12th pick.

With the key departures, a new quarterback and a big question mark at wide receiver, the Broncos look like a team headed in the wrong direction.

The Las Vegas Raiders ended the 2023 season on promising a note, winning three of their last four games, but they still missed the playoffs. This offseason, they slashed the interim tag of head coach Antonio Pierce's job title after they went 5-4 under his charge.

However, the franchise has been trapped in mediocrity, just good enough to fight for the final wild card spot but not good enough to consistently snatch it. They also haven't made a substantial upgrade at quarterback.

They signed Gardner Minshew on a two-year, $25 million deal in free agency, but they struck out on the top options in the draft. It appears Aidan O'Connell will be the starter with Gardner Minshew riding shotgun.

The loss of the underrated running back Josh Jacobs to Green Bay Packers is also a major one. Maxx Crosby and the defense should perform in 2024 and keep them in high-pressure games due to the addition of Christian Wilkins and the progression of Malcolm Koonce.

If there's a team that can challenge the Chiefs for AFC West supremacy, it is the Los Angeles Chargers.

Looking at their roster, they have clearly taken a step back, most notably with the double setback of losing wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the same summer, which left a major void in their wide receiver room. This is going to be a slightly less talented squad than last year.

However, the transition from Brandon Staley to Jim Harbaugh represents a significant improvement in the head coach department.

Harbaugh may turn this basement-dwelling squad into a winning team in 2024, with star quarterback Justin Herbert under center. Their draft moves, selecting an elite offensive line prospect in Joe Alt and trading up for a dynamic wideout in Georgia's Ladd McConkey, are also impressive.

The Chargers will likely play a rugged style of football under Harbaugh. Los Angeles should crush bottom-tier squads, but don't expect them to surprise high-scoring offenses.

There may be a fierce competition for a Wild Card place, but that's the only prize of playing in a division with the dynamic combination of All-Time head coach Andy Reid, All-Time quarterback Patrick Mahomes and future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce (and an All-time celebrity fan in pop star Taylor Swift).

Reid and Mahomes, in particular, have been together every step of the way during the Chiefs’ reign of AFC West supremacy. Overall, the Chiefs will be a difficult club to overcome, especially if Mahomes stays healthy and his partner, record-setting Kelce, is on the field with him.

They signed Marquise Brown in free agency and traded up in the first round for Xavier Worthy, who recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history.

They will miss cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (traded to the Tennessee Titans) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (signed with the New Orleans Saints), but Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna could generate enough pocket poise to help the secondary in coverage.

Every team in the AFC West other than the two-time defending Super Bowl champions are in transition, so they'll win the division pretty comfortably, enjoy home field advantage, and probably win the AFC Championship.