NFL AFC West Predictions, Picks, Projections & Betting Odds: 2023-24

Author:
Zach Lutz, Spotlight Sports
Aug 16, 2023 9:41 AM EDT

Top quarterback play is abundant in the AFC West, well at least for half of the division. The Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, are the class of both the league and the position. Justin Herbert is pretty special himself, as he can light up the scoreboard as part of a prolific Chargers’ offense. The Raiders are certainly a team in flux as they wait for Josh Jacobs to report, but in Davante Adams, they are not without weapons.

And then, we get to perhaps one of the more perplexing and drama-filled teams in the league; the Denver Broncos. Last year, in Russell Wilson’s first season with Denver, the Broncos (and the veteran signal caller) struggled to levels that were unexpected. With a new coach in Sean Payton, as well as some controversial comments, Denver is primed for a rebound.

All of these factors combine to make the AFC West one of the most interesting divisions in the league. There are a lot of things that can take place, and it will be exciting to follow throughout the season. With that said, it is time to jump into our NFL AFC West predictions with odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

AFC WEST PREDICTION: Denver Broncos to win the division (+550 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

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NFL AFC West Preseason Power Rankings

We have to begin where we left off. The last time an NFL game truly mattered, the Kansas City Chiefs were walking off the field as champions. While it certainly is a team effort, the biggest pieces of their success (Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce) will be back for an encore.

Based on last year’s standings, it should not be a surprise that the Los Angeles Chargers come up next after finishing with a 10-7 record in 2022. Led by Justin Herbert under center, the Chargers have a prolific offense that will keep them in most games. Between Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams and rookie Quentin Johnson, Herbert will have no shortage of weapons.

Last year, Denver finished a game behind Las Vegas, but from a talent perspective, they still enter the season ahead of the Raiders. There is the overarching question as to when Josh Jacobs will report, but the health of Jimmy Garrapolo could prove to be just as critical.

AFC West Predictions, Picks & Best Bets for the 2023-24 NFL Season

The easy answer is to look for a repeat performance from the Chiefs as division winners, but that is also reflected in the payout. Mahomes, once again, is the top quarterback in the league, but a ton is asked of him each season. On the offensive side of the ball, Orlando Brown was replaced by Jawaan Taylor on the line, and it remains to be seen how that will work.

While Kelce is going to be the focus of the passing game, Kansas City also needs Kadarius Toney to stay healthy and Skyy Moore needs to step up in his second year. Rookie Rashee Rice and Richie James have to replace JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, and it could be difficult.

Denver, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back and the offensive genius of Sean Payton should play a large factor in that. Javonte Williams is once again healthy in the backfield and with Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, there are two explosive receivers. Wilson is a lot better than he showed last year and Denver also improved their offensive line.

For that reason, we are targeting the Broncos to win the division with +550 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. If our NFL AFC West predictions are intriguing to you, make sure to head to DraftKings with this link. New users can sign up without a promo code and claim an instant $150 reward within a matter of clicks.

Betting Odds to Win the AFC West Available at DraftKings: 2023-24

As we work through our NFL AFC West predictions, let us take a look at the odds currently available at DraftKings Sportsbook for each team to win the division:

Kansas City Chiefs: -165
Los Angeles Chargers: +340
Denver Broncos: +550
Las Vegas Raiders: +1200

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After reviewing and going through our NFL AFC West predictions, it is now time to cover the generous promotion on offer for all new users at DraftKings Sportsbook. When you sign up here for a new account, all new users have the potential to earn $150 in bonus bets after placing their initial wager. The great news is that this will take place regardless of the result.

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Previous AFC West Winners

As we look ahead with our NFL AFC West predictions, the normal course of action would be to look at the last five years. Ultimately, that does not do us much good, as the Chiefs have taken home the last seven titles with the Broncos winning five straight years before that. This year though, we are looking for a changing of the guard.

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