Xavier Worthy left Week 1 with a shoulder injury and could miss more time
Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and a touchdown in Week 1
RJ Harvey rushed six times for 70 yards in his NFL debut
There was a ton of great football played in Week 1, but some of the best came from the AFC West. Friday night brought us a fantastic battle between the Chargers and Chiefs, while the Broncos and Raiders both turned heads with their wins. The impressive results led to a significant shakeup of the odds as sportsbooks lost faith in the Chiefs, giving us a great chance to win some money.
Below, we will share the latest insights into all four AFC West squads and our pick to win.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Register at BetMGM with our promo code WSNSPORTS and claim: Bet $10, Get $150 if You Win*
Team | Odds |
---|---|
Kansas City Chiefs | +175 BET HERE |
Los Angeles Chargers | +190 BET HERE |
Denver Broncos | +240 BET HERE |
Las Vegas Raiders | +1100 BET HERE |
*21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements.
Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, MS, NY, NV, ON, or PR.
The Chiefs made a rare appearance in the cellar of the AFC West after a Week 1 loss to the Chargers. While LA looked impressive, Kansas City lost Xavier Worthy very early in the game. The electric young playmakers were meant to be one of Mahomes' top weapons, causing the offense to struggle to adjust to his unexpected departure.
There hasn’t been much news around the Worthy injury since it happened, with coach Andy Reid only confirming he is out of practice as he works his way back. If he ends up missing time, it would leave the offense shorthanded with Rashee Rice suspended until Week 7.
Speaking of the Chargers, they were able to slay a major demon by holding on to beat Kansas City. The defense was solid, and Justin Herbert was playing like an MVP with an improved group of pass catchers. However, we believe the real star will end up being rookie running back Omarion Hampton. We saw him struggle early, but he soon settled in and showed the mix of physicality and athleticism that led to him earning the starting job.
Although the win was great for LA, we still have questions about the defense. We saw their impressive defense falter late in the game as Mahomes and the offense adjusted to Worthy’s absence. It wasn’t enough to cost the Chargers the game, but it was enough to make us believe this unit is more vulnerable than the stats show.
This is your grandfather’s Raiders team. Geno Smith threw for 362 yards and a touchdown as Las Vegas beat a much-hyped New England squad. The offense looked incredibly sharp, despite the rookie phenom running back Ashton Jeanty struggling. With the pass rush also looking vastly improved, the Raiders are quickly becoming a tempting long-shot bet to win the AFC West.
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The Chargers’ win over the Chiefs was a big one, but our biggest Week 1 takeaway was how incredible the Broncos' defense is. It was clear from the opening drive that Cam Ward and the Titans had no chance of finding the end zone, leading Denver to try out some new things on offense. The Titans aren’t the best offense, but the Broncos’ six sacks, seven TFLs, and 12 QB hits are a terrifying sign for the rest of the season.
We have some concerns about Bo Nix's role in 2025, but the elite defense will set the bar for success low. We’re also comforted by rookie running back RJ Harvey, who saw just six carries but stole the spotlight by posting 70 yards. He and JK Dobbins were a fearsome duo in the backfield, which will also help boost Nix during his sophomore season.
Betting on the AFC West is a straightforward task for bettors of all backgrounds, but learning where to find and place these bets can take time. If you find yourself stuck, we have you covered.
Here is an easy step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Choose the sportsbook you want to wager with
Select “Football” or “NFL” from the betting catalog, usually found on the top or side menu
Once you reach the NFL page, click on the tab for “Futures”
Read through the options for the “Division Winner” section
Scroll down to the AFC West
Select the team you want to win
Navigate to your betslip to enter how much you want to wager
Hit submit, and you are all set!
Before placing any future bets, remember that the bet will take months to settle. That means your money will be locked in and unavailable for withdrawal during that time.
All division futures bets will be paid out once the season ends and a champion is officially crowned.
NFL futures odds work the same as any other bet. Each bet includes a number following the team or player, preceded by a plus or minus sign.
A plus sign before the number usually indicates an underdog, which is common with futures bets. If the odds next to a team or player have a plus sign, that is the amount that you will win for every $100 you bet.
A minus sign usually indicates the favorite to win, though they are rarely seen for future bets. A minus sign in front of the odds means that is how much you need to bet to win $100.
For example, you bet $100 on the Steelers at +500 to win the AFC West. If they win the division, you will win $350.
If you aren't looking to bet $100 at a time, don't worry! Check out our odds calculator to help you determine potential winnings based on different wager amounts.
Are you ready to start betting on the AFC West but unsure where to start? If so, we have you covered with our sportsbook reviews. Here are our three favorite online sportsbooks we use when betting on NFL futures:
Caesars Sportsbook: This is our favorite platform due to the favorable odds, frequent promotions, and live streaming of almost every NFL game. This means you can track bets from your phone, no matter where you are. Combine that with the Las Vegas-style experience, and you’ll quickly see why we love Caesars. New users who sign up for a new account with our promo code WSN20X will get the following welcome offer: Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Next 20 Bets.
FanDuel Sportsbook: If you are betting on America’s favorite sport, why not use its favorite sportsbook? FanDuel offers bettors an easy-to-use platform that is easy to navigate. The odds, promotions, and rewards are unmatched, meaning you can have more money in your pocket when you win. Follow our link and claim the welcome offer today: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.
BetMGM Sportsbook: BetMGM has established itself as one of the top sportsbooks in the US. The platform captures the Las Vegas feel and allows players to bet on games easily. Be sure to pay attention to their fantastic loyalty program, which can lead to some big rewards. Register today with our promo code WSNSPORTS to claim the welcome bonus: Bet $10, Get $150 if You Win*.
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Over the last decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have dominated the AFC West. The Chargers and Broncos put together some good seasons during that run, but they could not beat out Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' dynasty.
Below are the last ten teams to win the AFC West.
Year | Winner | Playoff Results |
---|---|---|
2015 | Denver Broncos | Won Super Bowl |
2016 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost Divisional Round |
2017 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost Wild Card Round |
2018 | Kansas City Chiefs | Won Super Bowl |
2019 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost Super Bowl |
2020 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost Super Bowl |
2021 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost AFC Championship |
2022 | Kansas City Chiefs | Won Super Bowl |
2023 | Kansas City Chiefs | Won Super Bowl |
2024 | Kansas City Chiefs | Lost in Super Bowl |
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