The clear favorites in the NFL betting markets for the AFC West are once again the Kansas City Chiefs. But the defending Super Bowl champions will face some stern opposition from another team with an explosive offense and a quarterback with a high ceiling. Here, we look at this year’s AFC West futures odds and make our prediction for who is going to finish in first place in this division.
AFC West Futures Betting Odds
Kansas City Chiefs
Everyone will be chasing the Kansas City Chiefs this NFL season, as they are defending the Lombardi trophy after winning Super Bowl LVII a season ago. The Chiefs will be expected to contend for the championship again this season, as their offense is likely to be among the best in football once again. But there are no sure things in the NFL, and the Chiefs still need to go out and earn a division title and anything else they get this year.
The question for Kansas City this year, and every year, is whether their defense can keep up with their offense in terms of quality. Kansas City had a middle of the pack defense again last season, which is typically all they need to outscore opponents. But finding more consistent defensive stops in the playoffs will be a top priority.
Los Angeles Chargers
Last time we saw the Los Angeles Chargers, they had a convincing lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round. But they blew that lead and their chance to advance to the Divisional playoff round. Now the question is going to be how the Chargers bounce back from that kind of a crushing defeat as the 2023 season gets going.
Los Angeles was a bottom-five team in the NFL in rushing offense and run defense, which is a huge concern going into this season. While the Chargers offense prioritizes moving the ball through the air, their lack of offensive versatility makes them easier to stop against some of the better teams in the league, which could prevent them from getting over the top in the AFC West.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were a massive disappointment in the 2022 NFL season. They traded for Russell Wilson last offseason, but finished in last place in the AFC West at 5-12. This season, the Broncos will look to improve their fortunes in year two with Wilson as their quarterback, and year one with Sean Payton as their head coach.
The goal of bringing Payton in as the new voice in charge of the Broncos is to improve their offense. But the players themselves need to take some accountability on that front as well. Wilson has to be better this season, Javonte Williams needs to stay healthy, and the offensive line needs to be better as well. If those things don’t happen, it will not matter who the coach is in Denver.
Las Vegas Raiders
In the view of the oddsmakers, the Las Vegas Raiders have the worst chance to win the AFC West this season. They moved on from Derek Carr in the offseason, and Jimmy Garoppolo appears destined to be the new starting quarterback in the desert. If he can remain on the field and healthy, the Raiders could be better than expected this season.
Along with Garoppolo, the Raiders have great skill position talent, including Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, and Austin Hooper. They also have an elite pass rush, with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones leading that facet of their defense. While the Raiders may not win the AFC West, they could very well compete for a spot in the playoffs this year.
2023 AFC West Futures Prediction
Right now, there is no other bet to be made on the AFC West than to back the Kansas City Chiefs to win the division. Barring an injury to Patrick Mahomes or another key member of their roster, the Chiefs have the best roster in this division by a wide margin. Expect Andy Reid’s team to repeat as division champions, as they could finish off this year as Super Bowl champions once again as well.
Other NFL Division Futures
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