Making Sense of AFC West Prospects, Sans Kansas City

Denver Broncos can carry forward impressive streak of division success.

Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) runs the ball during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs got a lot of bittersweet publicity Saturday night.

Any PR didn’t exactly feel like good PR, either.

Houston’s 20-17 win over the Chargers, combined with Denver’s 20-13 Christmas win at Kansas City, clinched the AFC West for the Broncos. Across the world, fans were reminded that the division belonged to someone other than the Chiefs for the first time in 10 years.

Dec 27, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks to pass downfield against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It's now 16 straight seasons that the Broncos & Chiefs have won the AFC West.

However, the Bills & Patriots are guaranteed to continue to better this streak to 17 seasons in the AFC East.

I'd be curious if any other two teams can claim a division title streak longer than that.

— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) December 28, 2025

Sweet 16

In fact, the Chiefs (2010, 2016-24) and Broncos (2011-15, 2025) have combined to capture the last 16 division crowns. The last team other than Kansas City or Denver to win it was the San Diego Chargers in 2009.

Over the prior 15 years, the Chiefs and Broncos have combined for seven Super Bowl berths and four Super Bowl championships.

Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) looks at the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

Denver has an opportunity to extend that remarkable AFC West run this season. The Broncos, who may have played their starters for the final time during the regular season when they beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, can clinch the conference’s No. 1 seed from their couch on Sunday.

The Broncos will get the AFC’s only first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a New England loss, a Buffalo loss or tie, and a Jacksonville loss or tie.

Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

A return to Santa Clara for AFC West?

In two of the prior three seasons Denver won the AFC West, the Broncos ended the season in the Super Bowl, including Super Bowl 50 over the Panthers. This season, the Super Bowl returns to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., for the first time since Denver’s victory there 10 years ago.

The Chargers, meanwhile, sustained a big loss to the Texans Saturday afternoon at SoFi Stadium. Less than two minutes into the game, C.J. Stroud hit Jayden Higgins for a 75-yard touchdown, more passing yards on one play than Chris Oladokun (66) produced in 60 minutes during Thursday’s loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (44) and linebacker Josh Allen (41) combine to sack Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the second quarter of an NFL first round playoff football matchup Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars edged the Los Angeles Chargers on a field goal 31-30. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Los Angeles is now likely to travel to either Jacksonville or Houston for its wild-card game. That’s significant because those sites represent where quarterback Justin Herbert badly lost each of his two career playoff games, in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Kansas City’s twin nemesis this season, the Broncos and Chargers each swept the Chiefs. It marked the first time any division opponent had swept Kansas City since 2014.

Dec 30 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel and Denver Broncos head coach John Fox greet each other following the game at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

In Week 18 at Las Vegas, the Chiefs (1-4 in AFC West) need a season-ending win to avoid their worst division record in 13 years. With a win on Sunday over the Raiders, Kansas City would have its worst division mark since it was 2-4 in 2013, Reid’s first season as Chiefs coach.

The Chiefs were 0-6 in the division during a miserable 2-14 season in 2012.

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