The AFC West was one of the best divisions in the NFL last season. It sent three teams to the postseason, including the AFC representative in the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos. Even with that amount of success, that doesn’t mean the division is expected to be particularly competitive. In fact, it’s entirely possible the division only sends one team to the postseason this year. The AFC West was given an incredibly easy schedule last season, and succeeded largely due to the poor competition throughout the AFC. Entering the season, there seems to be a clear hierarchy in the division, both on the field and on the secondary market.
The Broncos are not only the favorite to win the AFC West, but are also the favorite to make it back to the Super Bowl. In addition to returning the majority of the most prolific offense in NFL history, the team upgraded its defense. They added DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, TJ Ward, and drafted Ohio State corner Bradley Roby in the first round. The $338.38 average price for Denver Broncos tickets is the most expensive secondary market average in the AFC.
If there’s a team in the division likely to challenge the Broncos it’s the San Diego Chargers. The team just barely made the postseason last year, but upset the Bengals in the first round to set up a Divisional Round game with the Broncos. Behind one of the top offenses in the league and an improved defense, the Chargers could take another step forward from their 9-7 record last season. The average price of San Diego Chargers tickets also indicates that could be the case with a $210.20 average for the season.
The Kansas City Chiefs were one of the last undefeated teams in the league last year, but they aren’t expected to repeat that type of success. They went 2-6 down the stretch, and blew one of the biggest postseason leads to the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the playoffs. This season, a harder schedule and likely regression could easily mean the Chiefs watch the postseason from home this year. Kansas City Chiefs tickets are only averaging $152.96 for the season, which is among the lowest figures in the league.
The cheapest tickets in the division belong to the Oakland Raiders. Oakland Raiders tickets are averaging just $138.52 for a team that has been one of the worst in football over the last decade. It also doesn’t help that they play in one of the worst stadiums in the league, and the last stadium in the country that hosts franchises from two different sports – the Oakland A’s play there as well. Oakland acquired a lot of veteran talent during free agency and it remains to be seen if that strategy will be the optimal way to rebuild a weak roster.
This season, the secondary market ticket data properly reflects the talent level in the AFC West. The heavy favorite Broncos dwarf the ticket averages of every other team. While the division sent three teams to the postseason last year, it’s unlikely there’s any way to stop Denver from dominating the division.
