CBS Sports predicts final standings for AFC West

CBS Sports offered up NFL division predictions following the schedule release last week and surprise, surprise, the Kansas City Chiefs were picked to win the AFC West. The reigning Super Bowl Champions have been divisional kings for seven straight seasons, dating back to 2016.

The predicted second place team, though, might be a real jolt: The Denver Broncos. Will Brinson, creator of the predictions, is putting stock in a potentially elite defense and new head coach Sean Payton’s ability to salvage the offense. So much so that they’ll even be a wildcard team.

See the full AFC West prediction from CBS Sports below.

• Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
• Denver Broncos (9-8)
• Los Angeles Chargers (8-9)
• Las Vegas Raiders (7-10)

It’s a safe assumption that Chargers fans would be bitterly disappointed with a sub-.500 finish and missing out on the playoff. Justin Herbert isn’t getting any younger and while stealing a division crown from the Chiefs might be too difficult to do regularly, making the playoffs with a quarterback of his caliber should be an annual expectation for the Chargers.

And the Raiders, despite signing Jimmy Garoppolo to stabilize the quarterback position, are devoid of enough talent on defense and the offensive line to hang around in such a high-octane division.

Brinson’s logic for the Chiefs was obvious: Patrick Mahomes plus Andy Reid equals good.

As for the rest of the AFC West, things were a little more touch and go.

“The Broncos and Chargers are a little scary — as long as Denver’s flying under the radar going into the season I’ll be higher on them. Sean Payton is a massive, massive upgrade over Nathaniel Hackett. It really can’t be overstated enough,” Brinson wrote. “Someone got mad at me for putting the Raiders in fourth place here … they’ve finished second three times since 2003 and haven’t won the division since 2002, so maybe settle down on demanding I think the Raiders will be great this season.”