The Kansas City Chiefs have been the kings of the AFC West for the better part of a decade, but Colin Cowherd believes the Chargers can give them a run for their money in 2025. During a recent segment, Cowherd and John Middlekauff gave their bold predictions for the season, and Cowherd made his case for why Jim Harbaugh’s team can overtake Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
“They [the Chargers] built the culture last year, but free agency and the draft – and you know, Harbaugh’s good at the draft, I think they’re going to be one of the better teams in the league,” Cowherd said. “…the Chiefs come into the season, which would concern me, with offensive line issues, so I like the Chargers to win the division.”
“I think Kansas City is a wild card team.”@colincowherd and @JohnMiddlekauff give their bold predictions for the AFC. pic.twitter.com/QeTpGowafm
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 24, 2025
Colin Cowherd: Chargers Will Usurp Chiefs, Win AFC West
The Chargers made the playoffs last year in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, so it’s easy to see why Cowherd is bullish about their upcoming season. Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh are the two most important parts of this team, but the rest of the roster is just as strong.
Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are arguably the NFL’s best tackle duo, and the addition of Mekhi Becton should give Los Angeles a top-five offensive line. First-round pick Omarion Hampton is a perfect running back for Harbaugh’s hard-nosed style of football, and the defense is largely comprised of the same group as last year. While the receivers and tight ends still leave something to be desired, this team has the talent to be in the thick of the Super Bowl race. However, do the Chargers have enough talent to keep the Chiefs from winning the division for the first time since 2015.
The State of the Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off an impressive 15-2 record and Super Bowl appearance, but they didn’t play quite as well as their record suggests. The team went 11-0 in one-score games in the regular season, which is an incredible outlier. Everyone goes around .500 in a large enough sample, so Kansas City played like a 10- or 11-win team that had a lot of balls bounce their way.
Kansas City’s offense should improve with a healthy Rashee Rice, but the offensive line worries are legitimate. First-round pick Josh Simmons offers some hope at the left tackle position, but left guard is a glaring weakness following the Joe Thuney trade. If 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia cannot improve in his new position, they’ll need to find someone who can.
Ultimately, the Chargers and Chiefs are similarly loaded teams with great quarterbacks, proven head coaches, and one or two weaknesses on offense. While Kansas City could still win the division, Los Angeles should put up a fight as both teams chase a Super Bowl.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
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