Who Is the Biggest Threat to a Broncos AFC West Repeat?
The Denver Broncos accomplished something in 2025 that they had not done in nearly a decade: win the AFC West.
By winning the division, Denver snapped the Kansas City Chiefs’ streak of nine consecutive AFC West titles and signaled that the balance of power may finally be shifting. But repeating in this division is an entirely different challenge.
Every AFC West rival entered the 2026 offseason knowing the division is suddenly up for grabs. Kansas City is trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. The Los Angeles Chargers continue trying to turn talent into meaningful success. And the Las Vegas Raiders completely overhauled the direction of their franchise.
The question now isn’t whether the Broncos can compete.
It’s which rival poses the biggest threat to keeping Denver from repeating as division champs.
3. Las Vegas Raiders: Improved, But Probably a Year Away
The Las Vegas Raiders may not be ready to seriously contend for the AFC West crown in 2026 – but they also shouldn’t be dismissed.
After a disastrous 2025 season, Las Vegas aggressively reshaped its offensive identity.
The Raiders revamped their quarterback room by signing veteran Kirk Cousins and drafting Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Cousins posted a 5-3 record as a starter for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 while throwing for 1,721 yards and 10 touchdowns across 10 appearances, giving Las Vegas a capable bridge option if Mendoza is not immediately ready.
Still, Mendoza is clearly the future. The former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and earned Offensive MVP honors in the 2026 CFP National Championship Game. He led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 record and threw 41 touchdowns while completing 72 percent of his passes last season.
The Raiders also strengthened their offensive line by signing three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum and hired Klint Kubiak as head coach after he helped the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX while serving as their offensive coordinator.
And while wide receiver remains a concern – with Tre Tucker currently penciled in as the No. 1 wideout – the offensive nucleus of Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers – paired with the addition of Linderbaum up front – is enough to inspire real optimism about the future in Las Vegas.
That said, the Raiders still feel early in their build.
Las Vegas has not won the AFC West since 2002 and has not won a playoff game since defeating the Tennessee Titans in the 2002 AFC Championship Game.
The Broncos have also swept the Raiders in each of the past two seasons.
Las Vegas should be much more competitive in 2026, but realistically, the Raiders would probably view a 9-8 season as a meaningful step forward rather than a disappointment.
2. Los Angeles Chargers: Talented, But Can They Deliver?
The Los Angeles Chargers were the only AFC West team to defeat Denver during the 2025 season.
That alone demands attention.
On paper, Los Angeles has many of the ingredients needed to contend. Justin Herbert remains one of the league’s most gifted quarterbacks and already has a 5,000-yard passing season on his résumé.
The Chargers also possess one of the NFL’s better offensive line foundations with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt anchoring the edges. The addition of former Washington Commanders center Tyler Biadasz should further stabilize the interior, while second-round pick Jake Slaughter adds valuable depth and versatility after earning First-Team All-SEC honors in both 2024 and 2025 with the Florida Gators.
Defensively, Los Angeles added one of college football’s most disruptive edge rushers in Akheem Mesidor. The former Miami Hurricanes standout tallied 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles in 2025 before being selected by the Chargers with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But despite all of that talent, Los Angeles still carries the burden of recent history.
The Chargers have not won the AFC West since 2009, back when they still played in San Diego. They also have not won a playoff game since the 2018 season.
Herbert himself is 0-3 in postseason appearances.
Fair or not, Los Angeles is developing a reputation for falling short when expectations rise highest.
Questions also remain at wide receiver following the departure of Keenan Allen. Ladd McConkey led the team with 789 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2025, while Quentin Johnston posted 735 yards and eight touchdowns – but also had three games with fewer than 10 receiving yards.
The Chargers absolutely have enough talent to challenge the Broncos. The question is whether they can finally establish they’re capable of sustaining success when the stakes increase.
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Still the Team to Beat
As long as Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are together, the Chiefs will remain the measuring stick in the AFC West.
Yes, Kansas City’s 2025 campaign was subpar. But it’s important to remember what came directly before it: three consecutive Super Bowl appearances and one of the NFL’s defining dynasties of the modern era.
Denver did sweep the Chiefs last season, but context matters. Mahomes only played in one of those two matchups. The Broncos earned that sweep, but proving they can consistently beat a full-strength Kansas City squad remains a different challenge altogether. If Denver wants to repeat as AFC West champions in 2026, it will likely need to at least split the regular-season series with the Chiefs.
Kansas City also made meaningful offseason improvements in free agency and the draft.
Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III was the Chiefs’ splash free agent signing this offseason. He gives Kansas City a much-needed boost in the running game after rushing for 1,027 yards with the Seahawks in 2025. In the postseason, Walker elevated his play even further, totaling 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns across three games while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
The Chiefs were also aggressive in rebuilding their secondary, trading up to draft former LSU Tigers standout Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Delane, a Unanimous All-American in 2025, has all the tools to become a shutdown cornerback early in his NFL career.
Kansas City also selected former Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Peter Woods with the No. 29 overall pick. Woods earned First-Team All-ACC recognition in 2025 and projects as a potential long-term successor to perennial All-Pro Chris Jones on the interior defensive line.
Still, the Chiefs are not without concerns.
Outside of Jones, Kansas City’s pass rush remains underwhelming. George Karlaftis led the Chiefs’ pass rushing unit with just six sacks in 2025, while Felix Anudike-Uzomah has recorded only three sacks across his first two NFL seasons.
Woods may eventually help stabilize the defensive front, but he likely projects as more of a rotational contributor in 2026 than an immediate high-level disruptor after recording just five sacks in 35 collegiate games.
Even with those flaws, however, Kansas City remains the Broncos’ biggest obstacle to repeating atop the AFC West until proven otherwise.
Final Thought
The AFC West looks far more competitive entering 2026 than it did a year ago.
The Chiefs remain dangerous because of their championship pedigree and the continued presence of Reid and Mahomes. The Chargers still possess enough high-end talent to be playoff contenders if they can finally overcome their inconsistency. And the Raiders appear to be building an offense that could become a real problem in the coming years.
That’s what makes repeating so difficult for the Broncos.
Winning the AFC West in 2025 changed the conversation around Denver. Repeating in 2026 would confirm the Broncos are built to stay there.
