2016 AFC West NFL Betting Preview: Champion Broncos Still Headline the Division

The AFC West produced a Super Bowl winner last season, as the defensive-minded Denver Broncos brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Colorado. The Broncos also provided bettors who backed them early a payout upward of 15-1.

But this season, Denver must replace half a dozen starters, including a future Hall of Famer at quarterback, while fending off the advances of the Kansas City Chiefs and the improving Oakland Raiders.

What do the updated odds to win Super Bowl 51 at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark have to say about members of the AFC West?

Denver Broncos (+1400)

Few defending Super Bowl champions have experienced the level of attrition the Broncos have this offseason. Denver not only lost its Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but his expected replacement as well, plus a handful of other starters. This is almost a rebuilding project. To address the quarterback situation, Denver traded for Mark Sanchez and moved up in the draft to take Paxton Lynch, but it looks like the defense will once again have to carry this team.

Kansas City Chiefs (+2500)

Kansas City made the playoffs for the second time in three seasons under head coach Andy Reid last year, reaching the divisional round before losing at New England. Now the trick is to take the next step and play for a conference title—something this team hasn't done in over 20 years.

Oakland Raiders (+2500)

After going 7-9 in its first season under new head coach Jack Del Rio last year, Oakland enters this season with a legitimate chance to snap a 13-year playoff drought. Many of the pieces seem to be in place, led by quarterback Derek Carr and the wide receiver combo of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. But the Raiders only ranked 23rd in the league in total offense last year and 22nd in total defense, so there's still work to be done. Plus, there's the distraction of Las Vegas.

San Diego Chargers (+6600)

San Diego slid to 4-12 last season, missed the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons, then almost moved to another city. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for almost 4,800 yards but got little help from the running game or the defense. The Chargers grabbed Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa with the third overall pick in the draft, but the future remains very uncertain for this team, both on and off the field.