Typically, division winners from the previous year have a more difficult schedule in the upcoming season. Fortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, that is not the case in 2024, as they have a relatively easy slate in their pursuit of becoming the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions.
For this upcoming season, how easy of a schedule do Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Co. have, and where does it rank in the AFC West and in the NFL overall?
Ranking the AFC West Teams by Strength of Schedule
1) Los Angeles Chargers (2nd overall)
The Chargers bottomed at 5-12 in 2023 and will face a last-place schedule in 2024. New head coach Jim Harbaugh probably won’t mind as he attempts to revamp Los Angeles’ roster.
The Bolts have to go up against the AFC North, which means we’ll get another edition of the Harbaugh Bowl. But they’ll also play the NFC South, where they could steal a few wins if everything breaks right.
- Home: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Ravens, Bengals, Saints, Buccaneers, Titans
- Away: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Patriots, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals
2) Kansas City Chiefs (9th overall)
Andy Reid and the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs will kick off the 2024 season with an AFC Championship Game rematch against the Ravens in Week 1. Kansas City will be on TV for a whopping eight standalone games next year.
While the Chiefs faced one of the most challenging playoff schedules in NFL history during their Lombardi run, their regular-season slate ranked in the middle of the pack.
In 2024, Patrick Mahomes and Co. will play the AFC North, which is always challenging. But games against the NFC South and their own AFC West — where none of the Chargers, Raiders, or Broncos present a realistic threat — should be reprieves for Kansas City.
- Home: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Ravens, Bengals, Texans, Saints, Buccaneers
- Away: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Steelers, Browns, Bills, Falcons, Panthers, 49ers
3) Denver Broncos (18th overall)
The Broncos are entering a potential reset year after opting to take on the majority ($53 million) of Russell Wilson’s dead money in 2024. However, Sean Payton might not see it that way, especially after selecting Oregon QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick.
Denver received a late (Week 14) bye. Over the final four weeks of the regular season, it will have to face three contenders: the Colts, Bengals, and Chiefs.
- Home: Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Colts, Falcons, Panthers
- Away: Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, Ravens, Bengals, Jets, Saints, Buccaneers, Seahawks
4) Las Vegas Raiders (23rd overall)
The Raiders have a path to the playoffs after finishing 8-9 last season. An underrated defense added Christian Wilkins, but Las Vegas didn’t find a quarterback in the draft after signing Garder Minshew II in free agency.
While the Raiders can beat up on the Chargers and Broncos, they’ll still need to get past the Chiefs to win the division. Meanwhile, claiming a Wild Card spot in a tight AFC while playing a bottom-third schedule won’t be an easy task for Vegas.
- Home: Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars, Falcons, Panthers
- Away: Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Ravens, Bengals, Dolphins, Saints, Buccaneers, Rams
