The Kansas City Chiefs remain the team to beat in the 2025 AFC West, but all four teams enter with plausible playoff ambitions and paths to potential postseason berths.
What’s hurting the division’s chances of multiple wild card contenders is the strength of the AFC North. NFL sportsbooks have AFC West odds and a range of enticing prop bets for those looking to get in on the action now.
Today, we take a look at those NFL futures and project the division winner and wild-card qualifiers.
Kansas City Chiefs
No franchise can touch what the Chiefs have accomplished in the last decade, notching nine straight AFC West titles and appearing in three consecutive Super Bowls. The Chiefs enter the season as the favorite to win the division again, opening at -110 odds.
Yet, for the first time in years, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid find themselves with less breathing room. Kansas City’s Super Bowl odds have drifted from historical lows, and the Chiefs have positive odds to win the division at some books, reflecting both their returning talent and a rising tide of challengers.
Still, the safe money remains with Mahomes, whose ability to win close games makes fading the Chiefs a risky proposition, even at reduced odds. Expect KC to win the division again in 2025.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh’s first season put the Chargers back in the playoffs and instantly restored faith among both fans and bettors. Opening at +310 to win the division, LA is considered the primary threat to Kansas City’s run. Justin Herbert continues to be among the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, and Harbaugh’s leadership is a proven commodity.
Chargers bettors should look for value in division matchups and over win-total props. While LA winning the division may be one of the most popular long-shot public bets this summer, we expect them to earn one of the wild-card spots in the AFC.
Denver Broncos
Denver’s trajectory under Sean Payton is one of the stories of the offseason. The Broncos surprised everyone last year, jumping from eight to ten wins and locking up a Wild Card berth. For 2025, their projected win total is set at 9.5, which seems plausible. Division odds for betting on the Broncos opened at +350, a sharp climb from recent seasons, and Super Bowl futures put Denver among the league’s top dozen or so franchises.
Many view Denver as the dark horse: a stifling defense, offensive continuity, and a potential second-year leap from quarterback Bo Nix. Denver’s playoff odds are hovering around -140 to make the field, and their win total markets are close to a coin flip. We’re holding off on Denver and taking a wait-and-see approach.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders, at +2000 to take the division, carry the longest odds by far. But this is a team with a new vision. Head Coach Pete Carroll reunites with Geno Smith, hoping their prior Seattle magic translates to Las Vegas. Nobody expects a division title, but oddsmakers set a win total at 6.5, and the Raiders could provide some of the best value for underdog bettors willing to take a chance.
Props on offensive improvement, or a competitive showing against divisional foes, may be the savvier play than Super Bowl or title bets.
