The Denver Broncos have big aspirations for 2025 and beyond. Broncos Country is seeing a team that is starting to put together a contender and it's leading into an exciting season for the team.
However, in order to get to where they want to go, they have to find a way to ascend the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have won the AFC West division nine years in a row.
While a Wild Card team can win the Super Bowl, it's ideal to win the division and get as many home playoff games as possible. It seems that the reign of the Chiefs is getting closer to coming to an end, rather than seeming like it could go on for another decade.
The Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers have begun to close the gap on Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes and that has led to Matt Holder of Bleacher Report making a prediction of a new division winner in 2025. But much to the chagrin of Broncos Country, Holder has chosen the Chargers.
"The Chargers are entering year two of the Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz era, and the head coach-general manager duo did a good job improving the roster this spring.
While the offense’s leading rusher, J.K. Dobbins, still hasn’t re-signed, free-agent addition Najee Harris has been a 1,000-yard rusher every year of his career and out-produced Dobbins last season.
Also, the club used its first-round pick on North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, who was widely considered the second-best running back in the draft, and plucking guard Mekhi Becton off the open market is a big boost to the interior offensive line.
Out wide, Harbaugh and Hortiz double-dipped to find a replacement for Joshua Palmer, bringing Mike Williams back after a year away, while spending a second-round pick on Ole Miss’ Tre Harris.
That gives Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert a couple of fresh options for his No. 2 receiver behind first-year standout Ladd McConkey.
Defensively, the Chargers do have a few question marks after letting defensive end Joey Bosa, defensive tackle Morgan Fox and both of last year’s Week 1 starting cornerbacks go in free agency.
However, Tuli Tuipulotu has racked up 13 sacks in two seasons and is ready for a bigger role. It’s just a matter of whether young players can step up at the other spots mentioned.
Look for Los Angeles to put an end to Kansas City’s run in the AFC West this year", wrote Holder.
While that is possible, it's also disheartening for Broncos fans. It shows that despite their hard work to get back on the road to being one of the league's best teams, there are two teams in the division to be wary of. The Chargers swept the Broncos last season and Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in the game.
Though the Chiefs still present the biggest hurdle, the Chargers aren't far behind them and this three-horse race will be difficult to win, not just in 2025, but for years to come.
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