AFC West standings: How Chargers loss impacts three-way division race with Chiefs, Broncos

Daniel Chavkin

AFC West standings: How Chargers loss impacts three-way division race with Chiefs, Broncos image

The AFC West is set up to have a thrilling finish to the year, as the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs all have the playoffs in their sights.

While the Chiefs and Broncos are set to face off for the first time this year on Sunday, the Chargers missed a huge opportunity to gain a game on the loser. Los Angeles lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a blowout, 35-6, snapping its three-game winning streak.

As a result, the AFC West standings gets even tighter ahead of the huge matchup between Kansas City and Denver. Here's how it looks after the Chargers' loss.

MOREUpdated look at the NFL playoff picture

AFC West standings

RankTeamRecord
1.Denver Broncos8-2
2.Los Angeles Chargers7-4
3.Kansas City Chiefs5-4
4.Las Vegas Raiders2-7

The Chargers loss ensures that the division standings will remain unchanged after this week. Even if the Chiefs beat the Broncos in the afternoon, it will not be enough for Denver to drop below the Chargers, but Kansas City can't rise above Los Angeles either.

Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders don't play until Monday night, but they seem cemented in the cellar as the fourth-place team.

MORE: Aaron Rodgers suffers arm injury against Bengals

Broncos schedule 2025

DateOpponentTime (ET)TV Channel
11/30@ Commanders8:20 p.m.NBC
12/7@ Raiders4:05 p.m.CBS
12/14vs. Packers4:25 p.m.CBS
12/21vs. Jaguars4:05 p.m.Fox
12/25@ Chiefs8:15 p.m.Prime Video
TBDvs. ChargersTBDTBD

After this week, the Broncos still have to play the Chiefs and Chargers each once, with both of those games coming in the final two weeks. That is along with tough matchups against the Green Bay Packers and Jaguars, which will help determine the division crown.

MORE: Updated look at the 2026 NFL Draft order

Chargers schedule 2025

DateOpponentTime (ET)TV Channel
11/30vs. Raiders4:05 p.m.CBS
12/8vs. Eagles8:15 p.m.ABC/ESPN
12/14@ Chiefs1:00 p.m.CBS
12/21@ Cowboys1:00 p.m.Fox
TBDvs. TexansTBDTBD
TBD@ BroncosTBDTBD

The Chargers' remaining schedule is tough, as Los Angeles still must face the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans. Four of their final five games are against teams that entered this week with winning records. 

Chiefs schedule

DateOpponentTimeTV Channel
11/23vs. Colts1:00 p.m.CBS
11/27@ Cowboys4:30 p.m.CBS
12/7vs. Texans8:20 p.m.NBC
12/14vs. Chargers1:00 p.m.CBS
12/21@ Titans1:00 p.m.CBS
12/25vs. Broncos8:15 p.m.Prime Video
TBD@ RaidersTBDTBD

The Chiefs have one extra game compared to their division rivals, since they already had their bye week. While Kansas City has tough opponents like the Texans and Indianapolis Colts, two of the Chiefs final three games are against two of the worst teams in the NFL.

Content Producer

Staff Writer