Week 7 AFC West Roundup, Denver Broncos inch closer to Kansas City Chiefs

Week 7 saw the Las Vegas Raiders drop their fourth consecutive game as their playoff hopes are quickly fading. On that note, let’s take a look at the AFC West Standings and check in on the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, while the Los Angeles Chargers were on a bye.

Broncos vs. Cardinals

Score: 30-16 Broncos win

Key Stats:

• QB Bo Nix: 15/29 (51.7%), 222 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 7 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD
• RB Jonah Coleman: 9 carries, 54 yards (6.0 ypc)
• RB RJ Harvey: 3 carries, 6 yards (2.0 ypc), 2 catches, 54 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
• LB Alex Singleton: 19 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits
• CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 5 tackles, 3 PDs

This is the type of game Denver needed. Nix wasn’t exactly bombing it down the field, as his 52-yard touchdown pass was a screen to Harvey, and Marvin Mims did a lot of work after the catch on a 47-yarder. However, all of that becomes irrelevant when the quarterback has a 62-yard score on the ground, and the team wins by two possessions for the first time this season. So, the Broncos still have work to do, but they went to Arizona and took care of business to narrow the gap against Kansas City.

Next week: vs. Chiefs

Chiefs vs. Seahawks

Score: 20-3 Chiefs lose

Key Stats:

• QB Patrick Mahomes: 19/33 (57.6%), 165 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 carries, 14 yards
• RB Kenneth Walker III: 14 carries, 36 yards (2.6 ypc), 4 catches, 21 receiving yards
• TE Travis Kelce: 4 catches, 44 yards
• CB Nohl Williams: 10 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TFL
• LB Nick Bolton: 11 tackles, 1 TFL

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kansas City played its worst game and suffered its first loss of the season. The Seattle Seahawks managed to do what no other team had done yet in 2026: bottle up their Super Bowl MVP. Walker’s return to Seattle didn’t go as planned, notching a season-low rushing total with half as many yards as his previous low (70). Also, that was just the third time in six games he’s been kept below triple digits, and Mahomes couldn’t get anything going in the passing game either. Kansas City’s defense had a fine night, but failed to record a sack and only had two quarterback hits, both from George Karlaftis. That sets up an interesting battle in the Mile High City next week.

Next week: @ Broncos

LAC Next week: @ Rams

Standings

1. Kansas City 5-1 (+40 point differential)
2. Denver 5-2 (+3)
3. Las Vegas 3-4 (-14)
4. Los Angeles 0-6 (-61)

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Updated AFC Playoff picture: The Raiders are clinging to slim playoff hopes and are quickly falling out of the running.
• What we learned from Rams loss: “Rob Leonard’s unit isn’t getting it done,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “The Raiders have allowed 170 points in the past five games. According to the Associated Press, this ties a franchise record for allowing, at least, 27 points in five straight games and they have also allowed, at least, 30 points in four straight games.”
• Fernando Mendoza’s time coming?: Klint Kubiak was asked about potentially making a quarterback change, and instead of shooting down the question, he said: “I think at this point, we’re thinking about everything,” via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Sam Gordon.
• Maxx Crosby trade talk picking back up: “Maxx Crosby is a wanted commodity,” CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco said. “And they traded Maxx Crosby once, let’s not forget that…I think they should be sitting there saying, ‘You know what, we can get a bunch of assets for a guy that probably isn’t going to be around here when we become something with our young quarterback. Let’s trade [Crosby] and try to get those assets in the building.’”