The Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles may have had a deeper impact than just ending the dynasty built by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. Year after year, the Chiefs adapt to the adjustments made by the other 31 teams trying to stop the AFC’s top dog, but at some point, the team’s status is bound to shift.
With the full 2025 NFL schedule now released, PFSN has projected the season records for all 32 teams, and for the Chiefs, it could mark the end of their nine-year reign of terror over the AFC West.
Chiefs Predicted To Finish Third in the AFC West
Even before Mahomes took over as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback and completely reshaped the NFL landscape, the franchise had already begun its domination of the AFC West. After the Broncos won the division in 2015, the same year they claimed the Super Bowl, Kansas City hasn’t lost the division crown ever since.
While the Chiefs built their dominance, division rivals went through rebuilds and failed attempts to reclaim the top spot. And even in seasons when the division was more competitive, the Chiefs remained firmly in control.
But that streak may come to an end in 2025. PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter (FPM) projects the Chiefs to finish third in the AFC West, behind the Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.
The record of the four teams would finish:
- Denver Broncos, 12-5
- Los Angeles Chargers, 11-6
- Kansas City Chiefs, 10-7
- Las Vegas Raiders, 6-11
The potential decline in the Chiefs’ performance may have more to do with the rise of their rivals than with a Kansas City collapse. Denver appears to have nailed its coach-quarterback combo, bolstered an already strong defense with the free agent additions of Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, and brought in Jahdae Barron through the draft.
Meanwhile, the Chargers improved their receiving corps by adding Tre Harris from Ole Miss, selected running back Omarion Hampton in the first round, and continued to build on Jim Harbaugh’s culture, one that, even in his first year, has already shown strong chemistry and alignment with quarterback Justin Herbert.
Amid all this, the Chiefs face the difficult task of playing a season following a Super Bowl loss, something that often takes a toll on team morale. On top of that, their moves to strengthen the offensive line weren’t the most impactful in the short term, with Jaylon Moore arriving via free agency and Josh Simmons being drafted late in the first round.
But as Sterling Xie points out in his article, even with a record that may fall short of past seasons, the Chiefs would still secure a playoff spot, and year after year, they continue to prove why they’re still the team to beat in the AFC.
“Don’t bury Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid too quickly, as the Chiefs still made the playoffs at 10-7. But that was good for only third in the brutal AFC West, with the Broncos beating the Chargers in Week 18 to clinch the division at 12-5. The Raiders finished last at 6-11, with a 1-5 division record dooming Pete Carroll’s crew,” Xie writes.
The battle for the AFC West kicks off right in Week 1, in Brazil, with the Chiefs facing the Chargers on Sept. 5. Expectations are high for one of the most competitive AFC seasons in recent years, with the rise of the Broncos and Chargers within the division, and other conference rivals growing stronger each year through the draft, all aiming to put an end to the Chiefs’ reign.
Let’s all admit, 7 years the Chiefs were predicted not to win the West, 7 years they won the West. So why would this year be any different?
Let’s all admit Tim is a clown because KC still lives in his head by blaming the refs Just
Let’s all admit the truth–they weren’t best last year, and certainly not in the AFC. Five games with faulty ref calling would have made a huge difference, they would never have made the Super Bowl without home field advantage (almost didn’t anyway), leaving a more capable team squaring off against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.