It’s the Chiefs’ division! It’s the Chiefs’ division! It’s the Chiefs’ division!

Or is it…

2023 Los Angeles Chargers Division Outlook

When the Colts had Peyton Manning, there was no question as to who owned the division. When the Patriots had Tom Brady, there was no question as to who owned the division. When the Packers had Aaron Rodgers, there was no question as to who owned the division.

Patrick Mahomes is widely accepted as the successor to those quarterbacks at the top of QB mountain. And along with that status comes the default belief that a quarterback at that level will dominate the division. But the AFC West has something a little different than those divisions. None of them had a Justin Herbert.

The Chargers will win the AFC West even in a year the Chiefs have a healthy Mahomes. They might win a few. Herbert is that good. I don’t know if this will be the year; it’s probably the best shot they’ve had in Herbert’s career. I won’t spoil too much yet, but I will tell you I expect the Chargers to go 4-2 in the division, the same as the Chiefs.

The Chargers Division Outlook vs. the Raiders

Chargers Division Outlook

Chargers BE Joey Bosa (97) – Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers split against the Raiders last year. They can’t do that again if they want to win this division. The Chargers are clearly the better team on paper. The Raiders might even be the only team in the division with a worse head coaching situation than the Chargers. There’s honestly not much that can be said about these two teams head-to-head other than that the Raiders act as a barometer for the Chargers. If they handle their business in both games against Vegas, then this is a team with a shot at the division and a real playoff run.

If the Chargers split with the Raiders, this team is probably right on the edge of making or missing the playoffs. And if they manage to lose both games to the Raiders, it’s time for players to book that Wild Card Weekend Cancun trip. I think, though, that the Chargers get it done and sweep the Raiders.

The Chargers Division Outlook vs. the Broncos

The Broncos might be the most challenging team to predict anything or wrap your head around the 2023 version. There’s probably not a situation in the league with more question marks. We assume Sean Payton will be a great coach in Denver, but we’ve never seen him outside New Orleans. Who knows if the defense under new management will continue to perform the way it has? And Russell Wilson is as big an unknown as anything in football right now. Is he really already done as a high-end QB?

I don’t think the Broncos win the division. I don’t think they are better than the Chargers. But when you close your eyes and think about the most probable teams to go on an improbable run, it’s hard not to see a flash of orange.

Whatever the Broncos do, I don’t see any way this doesn’t turn into a split with the Chargers. I do think the Chargers will win in LA. But New Year’s Eve in Denver has all the makings of a Broncos win. And if Denver looks good, that game has all the markings of a flex to Sunday Night Football if the Packers and Vikings game looks like a dud. For what it’s worth, I think the Chargers do finish above the Broncos in the division, but there is some upset potential here.

The Chargers Division Outlook vs. the Chiefs

Chargers QB Justin Herbert (10) – Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

It’s the Chiefs’ division! Except maybe it’s not. This is going to be a low-key exciting battle to watch all year if the Chargers live up to the talent they have. Obviously, the national focus will be on the AFC East, with the Buffalo Josh Allens, the Miami Vape Pens, and the New York Rod-Jets taking most of the attention.

The AFC North is also going to get a ton of press. And since the Cowboys are still in the NFC East, expect to hear a lot about that division. But the most exciting race of the year could very well be the Chargers and Chiefs. That’ll be true of their head-to-head matchups as they’ll split those games. The real question is if the Chargers can snag the division from the Chiefs. I think great things are coming in LA during Herbert’s career. For this year, though…

… it’s the Chiefs’ division…