The Chiefs were the only team to finish with a winning record (14-2) in the AFC West during the 2020-21 NFL season, which was coincidentally the best in the AFC. The Las Vegas Raiders were .500, and the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos finished 7-9 and 5-11, respectively.
Kansas City reached its second straight Super Bowl before falling to Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-9.
Odds to Win the AFC West in 2021
Kansas City Chiefs Team Preview 2021
KC is the overwhelming favorite at -275 odds, requiring a substantial investment to return a large profit.
The Chiefs have won every divisional title since 2015 and are Super Bowl favorites behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ brilliance.
Andy Reid was regarded as a regular-season coach in the past but has established himself as a bonafide playoff genius. The Chiefs have the best quarterback and tight end in the game, a top-five receiver, and complementary pieces in between.
Kansas City’s defense also improved drastically last year, with All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu leading the way. While previous generations of the defense could not create pressure, Chris Jones and Frank Clark have found success doing so.
Mahomes and the Chiefs are in Super Bowl or bust mode for the foreseeable future and face expectations every game. They have already made two Championship games and won one; they will expect to win this year’s title too.
Denver Broncos Team Preview 2021
Denver finished in last place in 2020 but has been given the second-highest odds at +400.
The Broncos have a quarterback controversy between Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater and the looming possibility of acquiring Aaron Rodgers.
Denver has an elite defense and added cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Ronald Darby to give them even more ability. Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are a handful for any offensive line, accounting for 15.5 sacks last season.
The key for the Broncos will be finding consistent offensive production without Phillip Lindsay and a sure-fire first-string quarterback. They are likely to improve upon their last effort, only managing a 1-5 record against division rivals.
Los Angeles Chargers Team Preview 2021
Last year’s third-place finishers are +600 challengers to the throne, thanks to an extremely productive offseason. LA added linemen Cory Linsley, Matt Feiler, rookie Rashawn Slater, and rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. All four will become impact starters, helping the team build Rookie of the Year-winning QB Justin Herbert.
Despite his inexperience, Herbert was graded the highest of any QB against pressure last season; and he faced a lot of it. With Keenen Allen and Mike Williams on the flank and a revamped O-line, Herbert is primed for more success.
Seven of LA’s nine losses came in one-score games. The return of a healthy Derwin James at safety and increased protection could get the Chargers into the playoff conversation.
Las Vegas Raiders Team Preview 2021
The Jon Gruden has not gone according to plan, and the Raiders will enter the fall with division-worst +1200 odds.
Las Vegas grabbed an impressive road win in Week Five but were unimpressive beyond that, finishing 8-8. They did not attract any major free agents other than Casey Hayward, a 31-year-old corner on a downswing. The Raiders also lost Jeff Heath and Tyrell Williams and will suffer without playmakers on their roster.
Derek Carr has failed to convince Gruden that he is the franchise’s future, coming off of a 27-touchdown, 17-turnover season. Carr has walked on eggshells around Gruden and has failed to replicate his MVP-caliber season in 2016.
The Raiders have gradually faded to blackness in their $1.9 billion stadium and will be contemplating their future with Gruden.
2021 AFC West Predictions
This AFC West division is the easiest to call in football— the Chiefs will win comfortably, even if Mahomes gets injured. They are the gold standard in the NFL and should have a minimum three-game gap over second place.
The Chiefs may have -275 odds, but they have earned it every step of the way. This would be a risky bet in most situations, but with the Chiefs, it is as safe as can be.
The bet with the highest chance of yielding a serious profit is on the Los Angeles Chargers at +600. This is a quarterback league, and with Justin Herbert, already a top-10 QB, they will threaten many elite teams.
LA finished 12-4 in 2018 and has the talent to recreate this display if they can figure out how to put it together.
Bet on the Chiefs and hedge the Chargers.
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