Draft Nation AFC West Synopsis at the Halfway Point

We're not leaving the West just yet. This week's division update keeps us on the Left Coast, but we're moving from the NFC to the AFC for a look at how the four teams in the West are progressing. Eight weeks into the regular season, we've seen some genuine surprises on both the positive and negative sides of the ledger.

Here's what's happening in the AFC West. As usual, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat have plenty to do with the play of the quarterback.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Kansas City is winning with less dependence on its quarterback. For whatever reason, the Chiefs have shifted from needing Patrick Mahomes to make a bunch of plays to a ground-and-pound offense, with running back Kenneth Walker III carrying much of the load.

What Seattle's defense did to Kansas City's offense was a monumental first. The Seahawks committed to taking away Walker and dared Mahomes to beat them. What looked like pigskin suicide worked to perfection in a 20-3 demolition. Walker managed just 36 yards on 14 carries, while Mahomes finished 19-of-33 for 165 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

So, guess what Denver did in the next game? The exact same thing, and it worked. Walker was limited to 69 yards on 21 carries, with a long run of 10 yards and no splash plays. Mahomes had a better afternoon, completing 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But with three seconds remaining and the Chiefs trailing 28-24, he was sacked before he could find an open receiver.

With all that said, don't be surprised if Kansas City considers drafting a quarterback. Remember, head coach Andy Reid already had a very good veteran in Alex Smith when the Chiefs selected Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Smith ran the show that season while the Texas Tech rookie learned the pro game from the sidelines. After the season, Smith was traded to Washington, and Mahomes took the reins with only one NFL start under his belt. He's held the job ever since, winning three Lombardi Trophies along the way.

I'm not suggesting that exact scenario should happen again. It simply fits Reid's and the Red & Gold front office's modus operandi: When they believe a player fits their scheme, they pull the trigger.

There is another consideration. No. 15 is coming off a serious knee injury involving a torn ACL and LCL, both repaired in the same surgery. And while 31 isn't old for an NFL quarterback, Father Time remains undefeated. Mahomes is a nine-year veteran, and there are signs that the three-time Super Bowl champion may be slowing down.

Denver Broncos (6-2)

Denver is winning in spite of its quarterback. Bo Nix has had a pedestrian start, whether that's because he's still adjusting to life on the gridiron after ankle surgery or because something else is making the Ponies' offense sputter.

The numbers for Nix are less than stellar. Through eight contests, Nix has completed 149 of 250 passes for 1,493 yards. That's a 59.6% completion rate and 6.0 yards per attempt. Add nine touchdown passes and three interceptions, and his 48.9 QBR puts him in the bottom quartile.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pound signal caller has yet to deliver a 300-yard, multiple-touchdown, zero-interception game this season. That has to be weighing on head coach Sean Payton. Does he stick with the former Oregon Duck and hope the third-year quarterback returns to the form he showed in his first two NFL campaigns?

I'm not recommending a change under center. But the Broncos can't afford the prolonged offensive lapses we saw Sunday against Kansas City. In the third quarter, Denver went three-and-out on three consecutive possessions.

Nine plays. Negative one yard. That's the kind of stretch that needs to be addressed quickly if the Broncos have playoff aspirations. Consistency has been Nix's biggest problem, and it showed up again.

Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)

The Chargers are winless, and the constant heat on Justin Herbert is a major reason why. Statistically, the quarterback has been among the NFL's worst passers in 2026. But Los Angeles has done a poor job of protecting its most important asset.

Still, if you just do the math, as I constantly encourage my readers to do, Herbert's numbers don't resemble even an average performance. He has thrown 10 interceptions, ranking 31st, and his 32.9 QBR ranks 30th. He's also been sacked 23 times.

The average fan might conclude that the former Oregon standout is the root cause of the Bolts' problems. I submit there are several mitigating circumstances behind Los Angeles being the league's only winless franchise.

First, Herbert is adjusting to new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Second, injuries have devastated the offensive line, which has at times featured four rookie starters. Third, there's no reliable running game, leaving the 6-foot-6, 236-pound quarterback under constant pressure from defenders who don't fear the run. Finally, the offense hasn't capitalized on scoring opportunities created by its defense.

Put those factors together and it's no surprise the Chargers rank last in scoring, with just 99 points in seven games. That's an anemic 14.1 per contest. Worse yet, the Blue & Gold have exceeded 17 points only once, in a 30-23 loss to Seattle.

Given all that, it's fair to ask how long Herbert will want to remain the Chargers' quarterback. The bigger question is whether the six-year veteran might eventually request a change of scenery.

Las Vegas Raiders (4-4)

Las Vegas is .500, but Kirk Cousins isn't the primary reason. The Raiders' offensive line has struggled to contain opposing pass rushers, making life difficult for its veteran quarterback.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Cousins is doing something few expected at the start of the 2026 campaign: keeping top draft pick Fernando Mendoza on the sidelines. Many assumed the former Michigan State Spartan would simply hold the job until the Indiana product was ready to take the reins.

Well, as Lee Corso would say, not so fast, my friend. All No. 8 has done is put up top-five quarterback numbers. His 2,124 passing yards rank third in the league, and his 19 touchdown passes rank second. That's big-time production for a team sitting at 4-4.

With an offensive line struggling to protect the passer, Vegas is in no hurry to give its prized rookie a baptism under fire. Especially if the 38-year-old veteran keeps giving the team a chance to win.

Cousins is one of the primary reasons the Silver & Black won't be picking first overall in the 2027 NFL Draft. In fact, the Raiders might even find a way into the playoff hunt come December. Now that would be an accomplishment.