2023 NFL Standings Prediction: AFC West
The NFL regular season is less than a week away, so it’s time to put rubber to the road and officially make predictions for the 2023 NFL standings.
Today, we move over to the AFC West, which may be the hardest division to predict in the entire NFL.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
- W vs. DET
- W @ JAX
- W vs. CHI
- W @ NYJ
- W @ MIN
- W vs. DEN
- W vs. LAC
- L @ DEN
- W vs. MIA
- BYE
- W vs. PHI
- L @ LV
- W @ GB
- L vs. BUF
- W @ NE
- W vs. LV
- W vs. CIN
- W @ LAC
What more can be said about the Kansas City Chiefs? Coming off their third Super Bowl appearance in four years, this team looks poised to make another deep playoff run in 2023.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce remain one of the most dynamic duos in the league for at least one more season, and hopefully, Kansas City is able to come to terms on a contract with pass-rusher Chris Jones sooner than later.
Questions exist at the wide receive position, but those existed last season as well. Even still, Mahomes was able to figure out enough to get his second Lombardi Trophy despite being hobbled through much of the playoffs.
2. Denver Broncos (12-5)
- W vs. LV
- W vs. WSH
- L @ MIA
- W @ CHI
- W vs. NYJ
- L @ KC
- L vs. GB
- W vs. KC
- BYE
- L @ BUF
- W vs. MIN
- W vs. CLE
- W @ HOU
- W @ LAC
- L @ DET
- W vs. NE
- W vs. LAC
- W @ LV
In comes Sean Payton to try and turn around the debacle that was the 2022 Denver Broncos. It is very difficult to believe that Russell Wilson has simply fallen off a cliff and can’t get back to producing at the levels he was just a couple years ago. With Javonte Williams coming back, and some major acquistions on the offensive line, this offense should be much better under Payton.
Alongside an improved offense, the Broncos defense should remain one of the stronger units in the league with cornerstones like Frank Clark, Randy Gregory, and Pat Surtain. It is a scary prediction based on what we saw last year, but the pieces are in place for Denver to be much better this season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers (6-11)
- L vs. MIA
- W @ TEN
- L @ MIN
- W vs. LV
- BYE
- W vs. DAL
- L @ KC
- W vs. CHI
- L @ NYJ
- W vs. DET
- L @ GB
- L vs. BAL
- L @ NE
- L vs. DEN
- W @ LV
- L vs. BUF
- L @ DEN
- L vs. KC
It feels like trouble might be brewing in Los Angeles. While Austin Ekeler’s contract situation was semi-resolved, the veteran RB can’t feel great about not getting a long-term commitment from his team. It’s tough to bank on both Keenan Allen and Mike Wallace staying healthy throughout the entire season as well.
This roster is an aging one particularly on the defensive side of the ball, and they have a truly brutal stretch of games to close the season. From Weeks 11-18, they have to travel to Green Bay, New England, Las Vegas, and Denver while hosting Baltimore, Denver, Buffalo and Kansas City. With an early bye week, this team could run out of gas by the end of the year.
4. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- L @ DEN
- L @ BUF
- L vs. PIT
- L @ LAC
- W vs. GB
- L vs. NE
- L @ CHI
- L @ DET
- L vs. NYG
- L vs. NYJ
- L @ MIA
- W vs. KC
- BYE
- L vs. MIN
- L vs. LAC
- L @ KC
- W @ IND
- L vs. DEN
There is a path to success for the Raiders, but it is one with a very slim margin for error. Jimmy Garoppolo not only needs to stay healthy, but he also has to perform very well to carry this offense. Josh Jacobs likely won’t replicate his league-leading rushing total of 1653 yards from a year ago.
Hunter Renfrow also needs to bounce back from an abysmal 2022 season that saw him catch just 36 passes in 10 games while Michael Mayer must replace Darren Waller in his rookie season.
Defensively, Las Vegas is banking on production from rookie pass-rusher Tyree Wilson, who terrorized Big 12 offenses at Texas Tech. However, there are questions regarding his durability after a foot injury did not allow him to practice all offseason. Overall, it seems safer to bank on this team struggling and selling for more draft capital at the trade deadline.
2023 NFL Standings Prediction: AFC South
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.