Are the Chiefs Cooked? Way-Too-Early AFC West Predictions for 2026
The article discusses predictions for the AFC West in the 2026 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs, after a disappointing previous season, are expected to bounce back if Patrick Mahomes returns to health. Other teams in the division, including the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, are also analyzed for their potential performance.
- ▪The Kansas City Chiefs missed the postseason last year after a decade of dominance in the AFC West.
- ▪If Patrick Mahomes is healthy, the Chiefs are expected to return to the playoffs despite a mini rebuild.
- ▪The Denver Broncos are optimistic about their chances with a healthy Bo Nix, while the Chargers' success hinges on Justin Herbert's performance.
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| Original publisher | Newsweek |
| Canonical URL | https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/are-the-chiefs-cooked-way-too-early-afc-west-predictions-for-2026-11890386 |
| Publication time | Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:53:04 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-29T00:27:34.794Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-29T00:27:34.794Z |
| Headline source | Publisher (no WeSearch rewrite) |
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| Retrieval / RAG | May the content be exposed for third-party retrieval-augmented generation? | Not asserted |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.We're still four months away from the start of the 2026 NFL season, but with free agency effectively finished and the draft over, we have a good idea of how teams are going to stack up going into the campaign.After ruling the AFC West for a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs took a massive step back this past season due to injuries and failed to make the postseason after three straight trips to the Super Bowl.Can they return to the top of the West, or will they struggle to keep up? Here's my way-too-early standings in one of the best divisions in football.Read More on NFLDeion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders Made Big…
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