AFC West Match-up: Where Washington Stands

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August 15, 2025

by David Earl

Washington’s AFC West Match-ups

You can read about the key points I’ve stressed about Washington here, including the pressure Jayden Daniels faced behind the offensive line, the lack of run game from the running backs, the defensive side of the ball, and a few more points. In my previous column, I mentioned that the NFC North looks to be a very deep division, with the Chicago Bears being probably the biggest wild card of the group.  The same is true for the subject of today’s column, which is the AFC West. Before I dive into some key matchup points, let me remind you of some statistical numbers from the 2024 season from Washington:

Offensively
  • Ranked 6th in points per game at 28.8
  • Ranked 10th in yards per play at 5.7
  • Ranked 6th at yards per rush at 4.8 yards
  • Ranked 6th in completion percentage, at 68.91%
  • Ranked 7th in quarterback rating, at 101.8
Defensively
  • Ranked 22nd in points per game at 24.9
  • Ranked 26th in yards per play at 5.7
  • Ranked 31st in yards per rush at 5.0
  • Ranked 6th in completion percentage at 62.74%
  • Ranked 18th in quarterback rating at 93.4
  • Ranked 8th in sack rate at 7.58%

At this point of training camp, it is tough to see whether there are any substantial improvements in Washington’s run defense from the 2024 season. While these games may not present the best running backs the league has to offer in two unproven rookies, Ashton Jeanty and RB Omarion Hampton, the potential they bring could create issues for this defense. As the run defense is a wait-and-see, the secondary has seen cornerback Trey Amos looking strong, and Marshon Lattimore appears to have regained some of his moxy after a terrible 2024 season hampered by a hamstring injury. Mike Sainristil also appears to look improved, thus forming a potentially strong starting three at the cornerback position. Beyond these three players, the defense has presented more questions than answers, especially in consistency.

The most intriguing matchup here will be against the Denver Broncos not only with the matchup against Bo Nix but where they place on the schedule. After Washington’s week 12 bye, the Broncos start a stretch of games that includes the Minnesota Vikings and the entirety of the NFC East the final 4 weeks of the season. This will be a critical stretch of games heading into the playoffs and Washington will start this stretch against what should be one of the best defensive units in the NFL. While they showed some vulnerability in the secondary last season in pass coverage, allowing a 65.35% completion rate (ranked 15th), the Broncos had the most efficient pass rushes with a 7.23% sack rate. They were one of the best run defenses, allowing 4.0 yards per carry while ranking 3rd, allowing 19 points per game.

The addition of safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw will only make a strong defense even better. So, what makes this matchup intriguing is how well they can match up against Washington’s offense. With Washington’s inefficient run game and the Broncos’ ability to rush the quarterback, the Broncos can prevent too many big plays and contain this offense. The one aspect of this matchup is the Broncos’ inconsistent run game last season, which did not seem to improve during the offseason, and that could make them a bit one-dimensional. Washington will be rested out of the bye, and with Jayden Daniels’ ability to come up with a big play, Washington should squeeze out a very tough win in a low-scoring game at home, but I am not completely confident either.

Monday night in week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium has all the makings of a potential classic. Patrick Mahomes versus Jayden Daniels will certainly carry plenty of hype and excitement, but allow me to burst your bubble. The Chiefs have a young and fast defense anchored by one of the premier pass rushers in the game, defensive end Chris Jones. Overall, the Chiefs’ defense was not  as dominant as the Broncos against the pass, but they were nearly just as good against the run, allowing 4.1 yards per rush and allowing 20.5 points per game ranking 6th in the NFL. Offensively, the Chiefs will have receiver Rasheed Rice back from suspension and aligned with receiver Xavier Worthy as well as the ever-reliable tight end Travis Kelce. Mahomes, behind an improved offensive line, will be too much for the Washington defense to handle on the road in Arrowhead Stadium Monday night. It will be good game early on with plenty of points scored but the Chiefs ultimately win by double digits, especially with Washington coming off a divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys the previous week.

This leaves Washington against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers. These two matchups will feature the two aforementioned rookie running backs in Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton. To start with, the Raiders are coming off a terrible season both offensively and defensively not ranking top 10 in any statistical category. Washington plays them early enough in the season so the offense behind newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith will still be finding chemistry with his new wide receivers. The Raiders are still rebuilding, and Washington will hold home-field advantage here in what should be one of their easier wins this season.

The Chargers matchup also occurs in Los Angeles early in the season, but home field advantage does not always work out in the Chargers advantage. Unlike the Raiders though, mush tougher defense against the pass ranked 6th in 87.3 total QBR against, ranked 9th with a 7.57% sack rate, and allowed the second fewest points per game (18.5ppg). Where the Chargers defense is weakest is not Washington’s strength heading into this season as they are ranked 26th allowing 4.7 yards per carry. Where Washington does have hope is in the Chargers offense they face as they mostly average all year, The ranked 13th in scoring 23 points per game averaging the 16th best 5.4 yards per play. The signing of free agent RB Najee and drafting RB Omarion Hampton should boost a league ranked 27 averaging 4.0 yards per rush. The loss of All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater should play a role here too unless second year tackle Joe Alt fills in and picks up where Slater left off. Washington’s offense does not match up well against the Chargers’ defense plus having the travel to Atlanta the week prior then clear across the country to face the Chargers could prove to be an issue. The Chargers, behind their defense, quarterback Justin Herbert, and an improved running game, take this matchup. Now lets look at the key offseason moves by these AFC West teams.

Denver Broncos:

Kansas City Chiefs:

Las Vegas Raiders:

Los Angeles Chargers: