AFC West Week 16 Preview: Raiders at Chiefs

Playoff spots are still up for grabs in the AFC West, and Week 16 will play a huge role in how the division standings wind up.

The top three teams in the AFC West still have something to fight for with three games remaining.

While the Kansas City Chiefs have held their grasp on the division for much of this season, the gap is still narrow as the Denver Broncos sit at .500 with the fate of their season in their own hands. 

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders come off their most dominant game of the season and have a chance to spoil Kansas City's Christmas with a momentous victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday.

Here is what to look for from the AFC West in Week 16:

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), who were on the losing end of that incredible, 63-21, Week 15 defeat to Las Vegas, will be looking to put that behind them when they host the Buffalo Bills (8-6), who are finding their stride and again looking like a conference contender.

Buffalo comes of a statement victory over one of the best teams in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys, a week after defeating the Chiefs.

The Bills have a top-five offense -- made up of both a top-10 passing and top-10 rushing offense -- that will be going against a Chargers defense that is one of the worst in the league.

It's not the match-up Los Angeles fans likely hoped to see coming off their worst loss of the season.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

The Broncos (7-7) were humbled last weekend in a 42-17 loss to the Detroit Lions. Fortunately for them, they will have a great opportunity to bounce back and get back to a winning record when they host the New England Patriots (3-11). 

New England did, however, put up a fight against Kansas City in the first half of their Week 15 game, but the Chiefs would pull away and hold on down the stretch.

Defensively, New England will have the upper hand against Denver, as the Patriots rank in the top-10 in total yards allowed per game, while the Broncos are toward the bottom of the league in the category.

This could prove to give New England the edge in what could be a defensive battle, as neither team has made a whole lot of noise offensively this season.

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

The next chapter of this epic rivalry will have a lot on the line as the Chiefs (9-5) search for their 10th win, along with a playoff berth and an eight consecutive division title, while the Raiders (6-8) look to keep their playoff hopes alive with what would be their first win against Kansas City since 2020.

These teams met on Week 12, when the Chiefs came out on top in a 31-17 defeat of the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

This Christmas Day showdown is a game where you can throw all statistics and trends to the side, as it will come down to who wants it more. If this game is as competitive as expected, we will be in for another great battle in this historic rivalry.

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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