With the AFC West as intriguing as ever following a flurry of offseason moves and coaching changes, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Hayden Winks broke down the division’s spotlight players and X factors on a recent episode of “Football 301.”
The hosts see the AFC West as a two-team race — the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers as likely playoff teams, with Kansas City‘s fragility a new story and Las Vegas laying the groundwork for relevance in 2027. The division’s winner will likely be decided by whether Jaylen Waddle and Ladd McConkey prove to be difference-makers for their respective teams, and whose offensive line stays intact deep into December.
Below, Tice and Winks break down the win total for each squad:
Both Winks and Tice agree: Denver fields one of the league’s most complete rosters, coming off an AFC championship game appearance. With the addition of Waddle, expectations remain high. While Waddle gives quarterback Bo Nix a new target, Tice pointed to a potential impact rookie as well.
“Jonah Coleman might be a really good fit in this offense,” Tice said. “Being the guy that’s the Mark Ingram for Sean Payton in this offense because he likes to have those running back kind of splits.
“If Bo Nix gets even just half a tier better, wow, this offense could be really good.”
There’s palpable excitement around new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s arrival and the integration of his run concepts with Justin Herbert‘s rare arm talent. Herbert, WR Ladd McConkey and key additions like RB Omarion Hampton and C Tyler Biadasz with a scheme that should help stabilize the offensive line have Winks and Tice thinking a leap is possible if the Chargers stay healthy.
“I have a lot of expectations for Ladd,” Winks said. “I think they’re going to get him more involved this year without Keenan Allen.”
The hosts are concerned with Patrick Mahomes coming off a torn ACL, and the lack of depth with the Chiefs’ pass-catching options. Kenneth Walker III adds backfield firepower, but injuries and question marks linger on both sides of the ball.
“I really don’t think you can overstate how much the [Kenneth] Walker signing is going to be,” Winks said. “I think they’re going to be maybe a little more under center. I would draft him in the first round in fantasy.”
Tice added: “They need someone outside Mahomes that can create something — that’s why you bring in Walker.”
The hosts pointed to new head coach in Klint Kubiak, a stabilized offensive line and No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza as giving the Raiders direction after a disastrous 2025 season. But the young roster, receiver weakness and a brutal schedule make a complete turnaround a 2027 proposition.
“My X factor is just normalcy. Kubiak is a pro, Mendoza is a pro, [Kirk] Cousins is a pro,” Tice said. “They’ve really got guys in their head positions now.”
For more NFL insight, tune into “Football 301 on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
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