Overview of The Athletic’s 2026 AFC West Preview
This episode kicks off The Athletic Football Show’s division-preview series by breaking down the AFC West through four lenses for each team: what’s most exciting, what to watch early, what keeps them up at night, and what a successful season would look like. The big-picture takeaway is that the division feels unusually layered: the Chiefs are trying to restore their explosiveness and defensive edge, the Chargers are banking on a major coaching upgrade around Justin Herbert, the Broncos are trying to prove 2025 was no fluke, and the Raiders are hoping their young offensive core and new quarterback timeline finally point them somewhere.
Kansas City Chiefs
What’s most exciting
The Chiefs’ biggest swing is Kenneth Walker giving them the explosive run element they’ve lacked for years. The discussion emphasized just how drastic the gap has been: Kansas City has been one of the league’s least explosive rushing teams, and Walker immediately changes that.
- He brings true field-flipping runs and creates a more balanced, dangerous offense.
- A more under-center, play-action-heavy structure could help unlock that explosiveness.
- The offense may look less siloed and more variable than it did last season.
Early curiosity
The early-season question is whether the roster changes translate into schematic changes, especially on defense.
- Kansas City seems to be shifting toward more of an odd-front, attacking defense.
- The secondary may return to more man coverage, with the addition of more press-man capable corners.
- The coaches want to see whether the new defensive front can generate more pressure and flexibility.
Biggest concern
The receiver room could still be a major problem.
- The panel worried the Chiefs might have a bottom-five receiver group.
- If Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy don’t provide enough, Patrick Mahomes may be forced to carry too much again.
- The concern is that Kenneth Walker alone may not be enough to fix the passing-game limitations.
What success looks like
Success means the Chiefs feel like the Chiefs again.
- Restore the team’s aura and make opponents fear them.
- Win the division and show they’re still a legitimate AFC power.
- A playoff run would help, but the bigger goal is re-establishing the identity and dominance they’ve had for most of the Mahomes era.
Los Angeles Chargers
What’s most exciting
The most exciting development is Justin Herbert getting a proven play caller in Mike McDaniel.
- McDaniel’s offense has been highly efficient and explosive with less dynamic quarterbacks than Herbert.
- The pairing could unlock Herbert in ways the Chargers have never fully done before.
- The panel is especially curious to see how McDaniel’s system looks with a very different quarterback and different personnel.
Early curiosity
The biggest early-season watch is how the offense blends motion, play action, and Herbert’s arm talent.
- The Chargers used much less motion than McDaniel’s Dolphins.
- Herbert has a much slower average release than Tua, so timing and anticipation will be a major adjustment.
- The first month should show whether McDaniel can transpose his concepts onto a very different offensive environment.
Biggest concern
The interior offensive line is a major red flag.
- Tyler Biadasz being out and the uncertainty at guard/center make the middle of the line look shaky.
- The tackles are strong, but the inside could still be a liability.
- The fear is that Herbert’s protection becomes a yearly mirage again.
What success looks like
A successful year means the Chargers must win a playoff game and show they belong in the contender tier.
- Simply being “competitive” is not enough anymore.
- They need to take a real postseason step, not just look respectable.
- The discussion framed them as a team with a high floor, but one that still needs to prove it can beat elite opponents when it matters.
Denver Broncos
What’s most exciting
The Broncos made one of the most interesting offseason moves by adding Jalen Waddle, and that was the main excitement point.
- Waddle brings a level of explosiveness Denver’s passing game has lacked.
- He can create explosive plays after the catch and force defenses to respect vertical speed.
- His presence should also help the rest of the offense by changing coverages and spacing.
Early curiosity
The early watch is how the running-back rotation and offensive structure evolve.
- RJ Harvey, JK Dobbins, and others give Denver options, but the workload split matters.
- The new play-calling setup raises questions about how much more motion and variety the offense will use.
- The group wants to see whether Waddle changes the identity of the passing game early.
Biggest concern
Bo Nix’s consistency and health are the main worry.
- He’s coming off ankle surgeries, and much of his value comes from mobility, scrambling, and off-script creation.
- His passing efficiency against zone coverage was a concern last season.
- The offense may still feel too “middle of the pack” unless Nix takes a clear step forward.
What success looks like
Success means proving 2025 wasn’t a fluke.
- The Broncos need to repeat as an elite team, not just a one-year surprise.
- A deep playoff run is the real goal, with the AFC title game/final four treated as the bar.
- The panel also made clear that the roster is strong enough that, if the quarterback play holds, Denver should be viewed as a true contender.
Las Vegas Raiders
What’s most exciting
The Raiders’ most exciting pairing is Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty with an actual NFL play caller in Clint Kubiak.
- Kubiak’s system should give the offense structure and play-action identity.
- Bowers and Jeanty give the Raiders a rare, elite skill-position foundation.
- The offense could be much more creative with those two pieces.
Early curiosity
The biggest early question is when Fernando Mendoza takes over and what the offense looks like around him.
- Kirk Cousins is a serviceable bridge, but the Raiders want a clearer evaluation of Mendoza.
- The team’s offensive architecture should make it easier to judge the rookie quarterback.
- There’s also a lot of curiosity around how the secondary and young defenders develop as the season unfolds.
Biggest concern
The roster is still thin and fragile in too many spots, especially up front.
- The offensive line talent is shaky even if the scheme helps hide it.
- The defensive interior could be a real problem against the run.
- There’s also some anxiety about whether Maxx Crosby could become a trade candidate if the season goes off the rails.
What success looks like
Success is less about the record and more about clarity.
- The Raiders need to finish the year with a clear answer on Fernando Mendoza.
- Bowers and Jeanty should look like foundational stars.
- If Kubiak looks like the right coach and Mendoza looks like the right quarterback, the team can enter 2027 with real optimism.
AFC West Themes
Big-picture takeaway
The division is defined by quarterback support systems.
- The Chiefs are trying to give Patrick Mahomes more explosives and a more aggressive defense.
- The Chargers are trying to maximize Justin Herbert with better play design.
- The Broncos are trying to support Bo Nix with more playmaking around him.
- The Raiders are trying to build a coherent environment for a rookie quarterback and two elite skill players.
Most important overarching questions
- Can Kansas City regain its scary, championship-level identity?
- Can Los Angeles finally turn Herbert into a postseason winner?
- Can Denver prove its rise was real and sustainable?
- Can Las Vegas find a long-term quarterback answer without wasting elite talent?
Final Take
The panel sees the AFC West as one of the NFL’s most compelling divisions because every team has a different version of the same question: how much can the structure around the quarterback raise the ceiling? The Chiefs are trying to refresh a dynasty, the Chargers are betting on coaching, the Broncos are trying to confirm legitimacy, and the Raiders are searching for a real foundation.