Which AFC West team poses biggest threat to Broncos repeating as division champs?

The Denver Broncos won the AFC West division in 2025, ending the nine-year run as division champions of the Kansas City Chiefs. Breaking that streak was difficult; doing it again may be even more challenging. 

The Broncos will play a first-place schedule this coming season and they go from being one of the hunters to the hunted. With Super Bowl aspirations all over the Mile High City, the Broncos will have some tough battles ahead. 

Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports took a look at the eight division winners from last season and ranked them in terms of their chances to repeat as division winners. He has the Broncos at No. 5 on that list, with better chances than the Chicago Bears (NFC North), New England Patriots (AFC East), Carolina Panthers (NFC South) and Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North). 

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Broncos are not even the favorite to win the AFC West. Instead, the oddsmakers feel the Chiefs will regain the throne. Here was Sullivan's analysis on the Broncos' chances to repeat:

"The Broncos were not only the AFC West champions, but also claimed the No. 1 seed in the conference. What prevents them from being the betting favorite to repeat as division champions, however, is the same issue that helped derail their possible Super Bowl run in 2025. 

Bo Nix fractured his right ankle in the final moments of Denver's divisional round win last postseason. Nix has since undergone a second follow-up surgery on the ankle just before the 2026 NFL Draft. While Sean Payton has expressed optimism that Nix will be ready to go by the time training camp rolls around, there is some natural concern about how Nix will respond.

That said, Denver upgraded its offense, striking a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins to land wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. With that in mind, Nix will have an improved arsenal of pass catchers once he returns to the field to attempt to repeat in the AFC West. However, Nix's injury isn't the only hurdle. The Kansas City Chiefs could find themselves back in the conversation depending on how their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, recovers from his own season-ending injury (ACL tear). Given Kansas City's pedigree, they can't be counted out and are viewed by the sportsbooks as the betting favorite to reclaim the division crown. The Los Angeles Chargers are another threat to Denver, especially if they get their offensive line, specifically tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, back healthy."

Can the Broncos hold off the Chiefs, Chargers to repeat as AFC West champions?

Sullivan outlines some of the reasons why there are many critics who are predicting that the Broncos will take a big step back this coming season. Nix's ankle remains a big question mark, but the teams being built in Kansas City and Los Angeles are much bigger concerns. 

The Chiefs are going to be hungry to make a statement after a humbling 2025 season, which had a blowout loss in the Super Bowl right before it started. Mahomes, Andy Reid and the rest of that bunch will be on a mission. 

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Jim Harbaugh's Chargers are also not to be taken lightly. The Chargers beat the Broncos in Week 3 last season and when they might in the season finale, there wasn't much to play for. Both of these teams provide massive hurdles for the Broncos to clear before a Super Bowl can be discussed. 

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