When you sign-up through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more >
The AFC West is not only home to the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, but it is also one of the fiercest and most stacked divisions in the NFL.
The Chiefs are the heavy favorites to win the AFC West title, but the Los Angeles Chargers have been on the verge of challenging for several years and are approaching arguably their best chance to usurp Kansas City. The Denver Broncos also enlisted Sean Payton to steer their ship, which should immediately make them more competitive.
The Las Vegas Raiders—well, they’re there, and they’re talented. Their production and chemistry remain to be seen.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the AFC West heading into the 2023 NFL season.
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook
Beginner friendly
Fantastic odds
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
The favorite to win the AFC West is unsurprisingly the Kansas City Chiefs, the team that has been to five straight AFC Championship Games, won two of the last four Super Bowls, and seven straight AFC West titles. They have the best player in football, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and just won the Super Bowl in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them.
It’s tough to bet against the Chiefs. Not only are they set at the most important position on the field, but tight end Travis Kelce just might be the most valuable offensive weapon, and their defense quietly gets after the quarterback and gets better as each year progresses.
The Chargers are next in line and have tons of upside. Justin Herbert is recognized as a top-10 quarterback and has the potential to vault into the top five thanks to the addition of rookie wideout Quentin Johnston and the re-signing of running back Austin Ekeler.
Like we said, it’s tough to bet against the Chiefs. It also seems silly to fade them because they have not put a foot wrong in the past seven years, including all five of Patrick Mahomes’ as the full-time starter. Only a major injury to the quarterback could stop them from perennially winning double-digit games and being favored to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
The Broncos have great value here, and Sean Payton and Russell Wilson also have nice value in the Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year markets. Payton is at the center of all of that because, although he has been away from the game recently, he is still one of the sharpest minds in the sport and always has his teams ready to win games.
Year | Winner |
1960 | Los Angeles Chargers |
1961 | San Diego Chargers |
1962 | Dallas Texans |
1963 | San Diego Chargers |
1964 | San Diego Chargers |
1965 | San Diego Chargers |
1966 | Kansas City Chiefs |
1967 | Oakland Raiders |
1968 | Oakland Raiders |
1969 | Oakland Raiders |
1970 | Oakland Raiders |
1971 | Kansas City Chiefs |
1972 | Oakland Raiders |
1973 | Oakland Raiders |
1974 | Oakland Raiders |
1975 | Oakland Raiders |
1976 | Oakland Raiders |
1977 | Denver Broncos |
1978 | Denver Broncos |
1979 | San Diego Chargers |
1980 | San Diego Chargers |
1981 | San Diego Chargers |
1982 | Los Angeles Raiders |
1983 | Los Angeles Raiders |
1984 | Denver Broncos |
1985 | Los Angeles Raiders |
1986 | Denver Broncos |
1987 | Denver Broncos |
1988 | Seattle Seahawks |
1989 | Denver Broncos |
1990 | Los Angeles Raiders |
1991 | Denver Broncos |
1992 | San Diego Chargers |
1993 | Kansas City Chiefs |
1994 | San Diego Chargers |
1995 | Kansas City Chiefs |
1996 | Denver Broncos |
1997 | Kansas City Chiefs |
1998 | Denver Broncos |
1999 | Seattle Seahawks |
2000 | Oakland Raiders |
2001 | Oakland Raiders |
2002 | Oakland Raiders |
2003 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2004 | San Diego Chargers |
2005 | Denver Broncos |
2006 | San Diego Chargers |
2007 | San Diego Chargers |
2008 | San Diego Chargers |
2009 | San Diego Chargers |
2010 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2011 | Denver Broncos |
2012 | Denver Broncos |
2013 | Denver Broncos |
2014 | Denver Broncos |
2015 | Denver Broncos |
2016 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2017 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2018 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2019 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2020 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2021 | Kansas City Chiefs |
2022 | Kansas City Chiefs |
Impressive range of bonuses
Large selection of games
Bet $100 get $100 Bet Credit
21+ | T&Cs apply
Wide range of betting options
Top notch customer service
Promo Code 'SPORTS'
$500 Free Bet
21+ | VA only | Gambling problem? Call 1-800-532-3500
Unbelievably, all four AFC West teams—the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers—have won the division 15 times. The 2023 winner will thus claim bragging rights over their rivals for at least a year.
The Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders have all won three Super Bowls. The most recent Super Bowl trophy within the division went to the Chiefs in February 2023 when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 behind 226 total yards and three touchdowns from QB Patrick Mahomes and 76 yards and a touchdown from running back Isiah Pacheco.The Chargers have been to one Super Bowl (in 1995), where they were wiped out by the San Francisco 49ers 49-26.
NFL
NFL Week 1 Picks Against the Spread: Predictions, Best Bets, Odds 2023
NFL | 9 June, 2023 | Grant Mitchell
NFL
How Many Championship Rings Does Aaron Rodgers Have?
NFL | 9 June, 2023 | Richard Janvrin
NFL
How Many Championship Rings Does Patrick Mahomes Have?
NFL | 9 June, 2023 | Richard Janvrin
Bet $20 Win $200 in Free Bets
21+ CO, VA, MI Only | Terms and conditions apply
Grant is a sports and sports betting journalist who prides himself on delivering breaking news and insightful analyses of the industry. Grant graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 and is feverishly pursuing his ambitions in the sports betting field.
In his free time, Grant can be found passionately watching sports, doing a workout, or searching for adventure with his friends.
More info on Grant Mitchell
© Rebel Penguin ApS 2023 (a subsidiary of Gaming Innovation Group Inc.)
We support responsible gambling. If you feel like you're losing control over your gambling experience, call
1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-522-4700 (NV), 1-800-522-4700
(CO,
TN), 1-855-2CALLGA (IL), 1-800-270-7117 (MI).
WSN.com is run by iGaming Cloud Inc (a Gaming Innovation Group Subsidiary) and is registered with the New Jersey
Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) under affiliate vendor ID
89744,
with the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC) under certificate of registration number SWR-000148, approved by
the
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as a gaming service provider, under certificate registration number
117656-1,
possesses a Vendor Minor sports betting license from the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission (account
number 94414163), granted a vendor registration number VR007603-20-001 by the Michigan Gaming Control Board,
an
interim Sports Wagering Supplier license, under license number SWS 066, issued by the West Virginia Lottery
Commission, a sports betting vendor registration, under registration number #100400, issued by the Director
of
Gaming Licensing and Investigations of the Virginia Lottery to operate in the State of Virginia, and a
Vendor
Registration issued by the Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation.
Advertising disclosure: WSN contains links to online retailers on its website. When people click on our
affiliate links and make purchases, WSN earns a commission from our partners, including ESPN and various
sportsbooks.