Latest news with #AFCWest
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos Predicted to Topple Chiefs For AFC West Title
Broncos Predicted to Topple Chiefs For AFC West Title originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Broncos are one of the hottest teams this NFL offseason, adding big-time pieces to an already vaunted defense while also seemingly improving on offense. With a mix of youth and veteran leadership, the Broncos are positioning themselves well for a big season. Advertisement According to Jeffrey Chadiha of the Broncos have improved so much that Chadiha believes they are ready to topple the Kansas City Chiefs for an AFC West division win this season. "The Broncos have an elite defense, and it looks like they landed a franchise quarterback in Bo Nix in last year's draft," Chadiha said. "We know [Sean] Payton can coach up the offense, especially as the Broncos add more playmakers." The Chiefs have won the division every season since 2016, but the Broncos proved themselves as a team capable of giving Kansas City fits. In November of 2024, the Chiefs squeaked out a 16-14 win over Denver at Arrowhead Stadium. Then, in Week 18, the Broncos beat a Chiefs squad that was resting its starters. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton greet each other after the game at Empower Field at Mile J. Downing-Imagn Images Chadiha also noted that the AFC West is stronger across the board, with all four teams having head coaches who have reached or won a Super Bowl. He thinks that levels the playing field. Especially for Denver, who he believes is the best team outside of Kansas City in the division. Advertisement "With the other teams also creating more resistance to the Chiefs... Denver will earn its first [AFC West] crown since Peyton Manning was their quarterback," Chadiha said. That was 10 years ago. Related: Broncos' WR Troy Franklin Named Breakout Candidate This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Predicted to Lose AFC West - But Not to Chargers
Chiefs Predicted to Lose AFC West - But Not to Chargers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The AFC West has been one of the most competitive divisions in football for a number of years now. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked because the Kansas City Chiefs have been dominating each team in it since Patrick Mahomes became the starter in 2018. Advertisement The Chiefs have won the division nine years in a row and most of those seasons, the other three teams weren't remotely close to winning. If there ever was a team who could upset them, most people expect it to be the Los Angeles Chargers because of their stout defense and elite quarterback, Justin Herbert. However, a writer for believes someone else in the division will dethrone the Chiefs and it will happen this season. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) Denny Medley-Imagn Images Jeffri Chadiha of predicted that the Denver Broncos will win the division for the first time in a decade. The last time they won the division, they ended up winning the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at the helm, but they just got back to the playoffs for the first time last year. Advertisement The playoff run was thanks large in part to rookie quarterback Bo Nix who proved the world wrong and became one of the better signal callers in the league last year. Combine that with one of the best defenses in football and Denver has a chance to be a serious player in the AFC for years to come. The Broncos already play the Chiefs extremely tough, but they've added some all-world pieces to an already outstanding defense. They signed safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw who were both considered by many to be the best at their position in free agency. Denver already shattered expectations last season with their 10-7 record, so all these additions on defense and a year of development under Nix's belt sounds like a recipe for success Related: Chiefs Owner Addresses His F-Minus Grade in NFL Player Survey This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Bold Prediction Has Shocking Team Unseating Chiefs in the AFC
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. No matter what anyone thinks about the Kansas City Chiefs following their dismantling by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs remain the team to beat in the AFC. Patrick Mahomes and company may have won a majority of their games by one score, but they still put together a 15-2 record before the postseason. More news: Steelers Facing Potential Problem With TJ Watt's Contract Heading into the 2025 season, there are a plethora of AFC teams that might be able to finally challenge the Chiefs for conference supremacy. The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Chargers all theoretically have a shot at doing so. Despite the usual suspects, a new prediction believes that a shocking team will be able to unseat the Chiefs in the AFC West. Head coach Andy Reid, left, speaks to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant... Head coach Andy Reid, left, speaks to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MoreMore news: Chiefs' Travis Kelce Heavily Disrespected in Latest Player Rankings According to NFL columnist Jeffri Chadiha, the Denver Broncos could be the team to snap the Chiefs' nine-time AFC West streak. Per his bold predictions for the 2025 season: "The Chiefs have reigned over the division since 2016 and they've barely been challenged during most of the years that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been under center. Most of that success comes down to the Chiefs' greatness but they've also been helped plenty by the ineptitude of the teams sharing the AFC West with them. Kansas City has been led by future Hall of Fame coach Andy Reid during that entire run of dominance. Every other team in the division has had at least four different head coaches within that same stretch. That churn appears to have slowed, though, with Pete Carroll (Raiders), Jim Harbaugh (Chargers) and Sean Payton (Broncos) now working in the AFC West. "Of those three coaches -- all of whom have either reached or won the Super Bowl -- Payton is sitting on the most impressive team aside from the Chiefs. The Broncos have an elite defense, and it looks like they landed a franchise quarterback in Bo Nix in last year's draft. We know Payton can coach up the offense, especially as the Broncos add more playmakers. We've also seen how Denver gave Kansas City fits last season in Arrowhead, with a blocked field goal keeping them from securing an impressive upset. Denver is good enough to win this division now. With the other teams also creating more resistance to the Chiefs -- who went 5-1 in the AFC West after resting their starters in a Week 18 loss to the Broncos -- Denver will earn its first crown since Peyton Manning was their quarterback." The Broncos became one of the most shocking playoff teams in 2024. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix under center, many were not giving the team a chance to compete. However, they squeaked into the postseason with a 10-7 record. Nix is going to be far more in command of the offense, and Sean Payton knows how to coach. That is a winning combo for a team that showcased a young core and dynamic playmaking capabilities. That's not to mention the other stars on the team like recently acquired running back J.K. Dobbins, Courtland Sutton, Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw, Pat Surtain II, and more. There are solid playmakers on both sides of the ball, and the Broncos are expected to be even more refined. While it will be hard to believe that Denver can take the division, it is not out of the realm of possibility. For more on the Chiefs and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could a Desmond Bane deal happen in the NFL? + Does Aaron Rodgers move the needle for PIT?
Is any NFL player worth four 1st round picks? Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz, Frank Schwab and Charles Robinson have a passionate discussion about whether or not we will ever see a trade in the NFL that resembles Desmond Bane's trade to the Orlando Magic. Later in the show, the guys take a look at some off the offseason moves that have dominated the headlines for the past couple months. Will Aaron Rodgers actually move the needle for the Pittsburgh Steelers? They finish the show up with another edition of Rise, Repeat or Retreat. This time they set their sights on the AFC West! Advertisement (1:40) - Is any NFL player worth 4 first-round picks? (29:00) - Does it move the needle? Aaron Rodgers to Steelers (34:15) - Does it move the needle? George Pickens to Cowboys (42:00) - Does it move the needle? Joey Bosa to Bills (44:00) - Rise, Repeat or Retreat? AFC West Why don't we see Desmond Bane-style trades in the NFL? And does Aaron Rodgers move the needle for the Steelers? (Photos by William Purnell &) (Photos by William Purnell &) 🖥️ Watch this episode on YouTube Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs' Andy Reid Offers Two Words On Anxiety of Trey Smith Status
Chiefs' Andy Reid Offers Two Words On Anxiety of Trey Smith Status originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to move from their OTAs to their minicamp. Well, most of them are, anyway. Advertisement The Chiefs, having won five of the last six AFC Championships and the last nine AFC West titles, have earned the benefit of the doubt on most everything. That includes contract talks with starting right guard Trey Smith, who has largely stayed away from work with the team he negotiates a long-term contract. Two areas of focus for the Chiefs heading into the offseason and summer were at wide receiver and on the offensive line. There are some key updates on both fronts. Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice, two of Patrick Mahomes' top three wide receiver targets, missed significant time in 2024 with injury. They are both back and progressing toward a full return this season. That's the good news. Advertisement And in the offensive line? Kansas City awaits the return of Smith to the practice field. Maybe there is no animosity here, but ... How about anxiety? The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Smith during free agency, making sure their top offensive lineman stayed tied her contractual. The two sides have until July 15 to agree to terms on a long-term deal. If that doesn't happen? Smith will play out his temporary one-year, $23.4 million fully guaranteed deal with the Chiefs and can become a free agent in 2026. The Chiefs don't want that latter scenario to unfold. So will Smith be at Chiefs' mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 17 through 19. Advertisement Said coach Andy Reid: 'We'll see ... I don't know that, to be honest with you. These things are ...we'll see where it goes.' Reid gets points for honesty, we suppose. But if KC really doesn't know? And if the Pro Bowl guard Smith really doesn't show up? He'll be subject to fines ... and we can imagine just a little animosity creeping in. The Chiefs are a two-time Super Bowl champion in this era. The window is open to make another run in 2025. Somebody in the Smith dispute, with that goal in mind, is due to make a move. Related: Taylor Swift 'Fears Imminent Harm' From Stalker Claiming She's The Mother of His Child Related: Chiefs' Xavier Worthy Proves He's Not A One-Trick Pony This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
