The tightest division in the NFL may have gotten even tighter.
AFC West standings: How division looks after Chiefs, Broncos wins and Chargers loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the first few weeks of the NFL season, it appeared that there would be a changing of the guard in the AFC West.
The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1 as part of a 3-0 start to the season, while the Chiefs were 0-2 and struggled out of the gate. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, went 1-2 in their first three games but won three straight after.
However, the Chargers and Broncos have not been able to take advantage of that Chiefs slide, allowing Kansas City to creep back into the division. On Sunday, the Chiefs won their second-straight game and third in four by trouncing a Las Vegas Raiders team that already appeared to be headed toward last place.
Later in the day, the Chargers lost to the Indianapolis Colts, while the Broncos came-from-behind to defeat the New York Giants. Here's a look at what the AFC West looks like through Week 7.
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AFC West standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Denver Broncos | 5-2 |
| 2. | Los Angeles Chargers | 4-3 |
| 3. | Kansas City Chiefs | 4-3 |
| 4. | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-5 |
Seven weeks into the season, three teams are in the mix for the AFC West title.
The Chiefs began the year 0-2, allowing the Broncos and Chargers to get a head start in the division. However, the Chargers haven't been able to take advantage of their Week 1 win against Kansas City, as those two teams are now tied with the same record at 4-3.
On the other hand, the Broncos have now won four-straight games to take sole possession of first place. While Denver's wins haven't been pretty, the Broncos have been able to comeback to beat the Philadelphia Eagles and Giants in that span, giving them a one-game lead for first.
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AFC playoff picture
- AFC South: Indianapolis Colts (6-1)
- AFC East: New England Patriots (5-2)
- AFC West: Denver Broncos (5-2)
- AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
- Wild Cards: Buffalo Bills (4-2), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3), Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
The Colts' win over the Chargers means they keep their spot at the top of the AFC, as Indianapolis is the only team in the conference that has no more than one loss. The Patriots remain in the AFC East lead after their win, and the Bills being on a bye, and the Steelers are still in first in the AFC North despite losing to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.
In the Wild Card race, the Bills remain in the top spot despite two-straight losses. The Chiefs, Broncos and Jaguars are all at 4-3, but the Jaguars and Chargers are above the Chiefs due to three-way tiebreak, as Kansas City lost to both those teams already.
Category: Football
