The AFC West race has gotten all sorts of ridiculous heading into Week 14. Three of the division’s four teams are all tied atop the standings at 6-6.
Though the AFC West has succumbed into being easily the worst division in football, it might also yield us the most interesting race of the season as we head into the final quarter. Two teams in the division won on Sunday, as the Oakland Raiders beat the New York Giants at home and the Los Angeles Chargers kept the Cleveland Browns winless.
The same cannot be said for the two other teams in the division. Losing for the second time this season at MetLife Stadium was the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City has lost six of its last seven games since starting the season out 5-0. The Chiefs are disaster.
However, an even bigger train wreck in the division is the awful Denver Broncos. After beating the Raiders by six points at home back in Week 4, the Broncos have lost an unthinkable eight games in a row. Maybe the Browns would beat them if they played the Broncos this season?
So where does this leave us heading into Week 14? Well, we have a three-way tie atop the AFC West standings. Here are the updated standings in the division heading into the final quarter of the season.
AFC West Standings, heading into Week 14
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (6-6)
- Oakland Raiders (6-6)
- Denver Broncos (3-9)
Even though they have absolutely cratered, the Chiefs hold on to the division lead by having the better record in divisional play at 2-1 over Los Angeles (2-2) and Oakland (2-2). However, the Chiefs still have to play all three rivals one more time in the final four weeks. Not sure how many of those games reeling Kansas City will win.
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Los Angeles is in second place by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Raiders. The Chargers beat the Raiders on the road back in Week 6 on a game-winning field goal by Nick Novak as time expire. Los Angeles has gone 6-2 since starting the season in an 0-4 hole. The Chargers are the hottest team in the division.
Oakland is still very much in this at 6-6. The Raiders have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Kansas City and split their season series with the Broncos. Oakland has gone 4-2 in its last six games. The Raiders have to play the Chiefs on the road in Week 14 and the Chargers on the road in Week 17. They can win the division, but might be on the outside looking in.
Next: 5 takeaways from Raiders' win over Giants
Denver is alive, but barely in the divisional race. The Broncos are three games back of all three with four games remaining. Two of the Broncos’ three wins have come against AFC West teams. It is a complete long shot and almost impossible for Denver to win the division and make the playoffs. Not sure this team is going to win another game the rest of the way.