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How far is the rest of the AFC West from a Super Bowl appearance?

By Shelby Manning

Nov 15, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (23) runs through a hole in the line during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (23) runs through a hole in the line during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Broncos
Dec 15, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) throws a pass as Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) attempts the sack during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

As Super Bowl 55 quickly approaches, the contest will once again feature a team from the AFC West.

For the second consecutive season, the Kansas City Chiefs will make a Super Bowl appearance, and look to capture the first back-to-back Super Bowl titles since the 2003-04 New England Patriots and become the first team in the AFC West to win back-to-back championships since the 1997-98 Denver Broncos.

Of course, we wish it were the Denver Broncos, especially after a 2020 season that had begun with so much promise, crashed and burned with a 5-11 record and last place in the AFC West finish.

There is one thing fans of the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers can all agree on- they wish it was their team, and they wish it weren’t the Chiefs.

Of course, the Chiefs have set a league standard in the past two seasons, and have been putting on a clinic on how to become the most successful franchise in football (hint: it’s called having a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes).

While the Chiefs have set the golden standard, and it feels as if the division has not been competitive in some time, there will be a point where the Chiefs are not running away with the West.

So, how far away is each team from contention? Let’s break down each AFC West opponent outside of the Chiefs, and make an estimate of how far away they are from a Super Bowl appearance.

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