AFC West
Encyclopedia
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League
's American Football Conference
, currently comprising the Denver Broncos
, San Diego Chargers
, Kansas City Chiefs
, and the Oakland Raiders
.
's Western Division. In 1970, as part of the new NFL's two-conference, six-division alignment, the AFL West entered the merged league more or less intact as the AFC West.
The original AFL West had four members – the Dallas Texans (who moved to Kansas City in 1963 as the Chiefs
), Denver Broncos
, Los Angeles Chargers
(who moved to San Diego in 1961) and Oakland Raiders
. These four teams have remained in the AFL/AFC West since its inception, and are currently the only teams in the division. Largely because of this, the entire division is considered one very large and very heated rivalry. When the Raiders played in Los Angeles
from 1982 to 1994, they remained in the AFC West.
The Cincinnati Bengals
played the last two AFL seasons in the AFL West despite being further east than Houston, where the Houston Oilers
played at the time and were members of the AFC East
. The Bengals (along with the Oilers) moved to the AFC Central (formerly the NFL Century, now the AFC North
) in 1970, instantly forming rivalries with the Cleveland Browns
and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1977, the Seattle Seahawks
were added to the AFC West after spending their expansion
season in the NFC West
; they would move back to the NFC West in 2002.
Each of the four AFC West teams won a division title in the first four years of the realignment – Oakland in 2002
, Kansas City in 2003
, San Diego in 2004
and Denver in 2005
. It is the only one of the eight NFL divisions to have all of its teams win titles in the first four seasons of the North-East-West-South format.
ESPN
's Chris Berman often calls this division the "AFC Smythe" due to its geographical similarity to the old Smythe Division
of the NHL
, now succeeded by the Pacific
and Northwest
divisions.
In recent years, the division is often cited as one of the NFL's "Toughest Divisions" due partially to the home-field advantages of Invesco Field
, Arrowhead Stadium
, Qualcomm Stadium
and the Oakland Coliseum (The Black Hole), although in 2008
the division was the NFL's weakest since the AFC Central in 1985
by sending the San Diego Chargers
to the playoffs as division winners with an 8–8 record while the New England Patriots
missed out at 11–5 after losing out on tiebreakers for both the AFC East
and the wild-card
. Only the NFC West
in 2010 has historically sent a worse division winner to the playoffs, when the Seattle Seahawks
(themselves a former AFC West member) won that division with a 7-9 record.
Along with the AFC (formerly AFL) East, the AFC West is the oldest NFL division in terms of creation date (1960).
Four teams of the above are enfranchised in the American Football League's Western Division
1961–62
Los Angeles moved to San Diego.
1963–67
Dallas moved to Kansas City as the Chiefs.
1968–69
Cincinnati Bengals are enfranchised.
1970–75
Due to the AFL-NFL Merger
, the AFL Western Division becomes AFC West. Cincinnati moved to AFC Central.
1976
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are enfranchised.
1977–81
Seattle moved in from NFC West, Tampa Bay moved to NFC Central.
1982–94
Oakland moved to Los Angeles.
1995–2001
L.A. Raiders moved back to Oakland.
2002–present
Seattle moved to NFC West.
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Season !! Team !! Record !! Playoff Results
|-
| 1960 || Los Angeles Chargers || 10–4–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1961 || San Diego Chargers
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1962 || Dallas Texans || 11–3–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1963 || San Diego Chargers
|| 11–3–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1964 || San Diego Chargers
|| 8–5–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1965 || San Diego Chargers
|| 9–2–3 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1966 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 11–2–1 || Lost Super Bowl I
|-
| 1967 || Oakland Raiders
|| 13–1–0 || Lost Super Bowl II
|-
| 1968 || Oakland Raiders
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1969 || Oakland Raiders
|| 12–1–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1970 || Oakland Raiders
|| 8–4–2 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1971 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 10–3–1 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1972 || Oakland Raiders
|| 10–3–1 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1973 || Oakland Raiders
|| 9–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1974 || Oakland Raiders
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1975 || Oakland Raiders
|| 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1976 || Oakland Raiders
|| 13–1–0 || Won Super Bowl XI
|-
| 1977 || Denver Broncos
|| 12–2–0 || Lost Super Bowl XII
|-
| 1978 || Denver Broncos
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1979 || San Diego Chargers
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1980 || San Diego Chargers
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1981 || San Diego Chargers
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1982# || Los Angeles Raiders
|| 8–1–0 || Lost AFC Second Round
|-
| 1983 || Los Angeles Raiders
|| 12–4–0 || Won Super Bowl XVIII
|-
| 1984 || Denver Broncos
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1985 || Los Angeles Raiders
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1986 || Denver Broncos
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXI
|-
| 1987 || Denver Broncos
|| 10–4–1 || Lost Super Bowl XXII
|-
| 1988 || Seattle Seahawks
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1989 || Denver Broncos
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXIV
|-
| 1990 || Los Angeles Raiders
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1991 || Denver Broncos
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1992 || San Diego Chargers
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1993 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1994 || San Diego Chargers
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXIX
|-
| 1995 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1996 || Denver Broncos
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1997 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 1998 || Denver Broncos
|| 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXIII
|-
| 1999 || Seattle Seahawks
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2000 || Oakland Raiders
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 2001 || Oakland Raiders
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2002 || Oakland Raiders
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXXVII
|-
| 2003 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2004 || San Diego Chargers
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2005 || Denver Broncos
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 2006 || San Diego Chargers
|| 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2007 || San Diego Chargers
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 2008 || San Diego Chargers
|| 8–8–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2009 || San Diego Chargers
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2010 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 10-6-0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Season !! Team !! Record !! Playoff Results
|-
| 1969 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 11–3–0 || Won Super Bowl IV
|-
| 1970 || None || – || –
|-
| 1971 || None || – || –
|-
| 1972 || None || – || –
|-
| 1973 || None || – || –
|-
| 1974 || None || – || –
|-
| 1975 || None || – || –
|-
| 1976 || None || – || –
|-
| 1977 || Oakland Raiders
|| 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 1978 || None || – || –
|-
| 1979 || Denver Broncos
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1980 || Oakland Raiders
|| 11–5–0 || Won Super Bowl XV
|-
| 1981 || None || – || –
|-
| 1982+ || San Diego Chargers
|| 6–3–0 || Lost AFC Second Round
|-
| 1983 || Seattle Seahawks
Denver Broncos
|| 9–7–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1984 || Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles Raiders
|| 12–4–0
11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1985 || None || – || –
|-
| 1986 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1987 || Seattle Seahawks
|| 9–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1988 || None || – || –
|-
| 1989 || None || – || –
|-
| 1990 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1991 || Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Raiders
|| 10–6–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1992 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1993 || Los Angeles Raiders
Denver Broncos
|| 10–6–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1994 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1995 || San Diego Chargers
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 1996 || None || – || –
|-
| 1997 || Denver Broncos
|| 12–4–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXII
|-
| 1998 || None || – || –
|-
| 1999 || None || – || –
|-
| 2000 || Denver Broncos
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2001 || None || – || –
|-
| 2002 || None || – || –
|-
| 2003 || Denver Broncos
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2004 || Denver Broncos
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2005 || None || – || –
|-
| 2006 || Kansas City Chiefs
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2007 || None || – || –
|-
| 2008 || None|| – || –
|-
| 2009 || None|| – || –
|-
| 2010 || None|| – || –
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Team !! Division Championships !! Playoff Berths !! Super Bowl Wins/Appearances
|-
| Oakland Raiders
1 || 15 || 21 || 3/5
|-
| San Diego Chargers
|| 15 || 17 || 0/1
|-
| Denver Broncos
|| 10 || 17 || 2/6
|-
| Kansas City Chiefs
|| 8! || 16 || 1/2
|-
| Seattle Seahawks
2 || 2 || 5 || 0/03
|}
! Chiefs finished 1968 tied for first with Raiders, but lost ensuing playoff game.
1 Known as the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982 until 1994, before moving back to Oakland.
2 Realigned into the NFC West
prior to the 2002 NFL season
.
3 Have played in one Super Bowl after realignment to NFC.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's American Football Conference
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
, currently comprising the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, and the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
History
The division was formed in 1960 as the American Football LeagueAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Western Division. In 1970, as part of the new NFL's two-conference, six-division alignment, the AFL West entered the merged league more or less intact as the AFC West.
The original AFL West had four members – the Dallas Texans (who moved to Kansas City in 1963 as the Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
), Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Los Angeles Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(who moved to San Diego in 1961) and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. These four teams have remained in the AFL/AFC West since its inception, and are currently the only teams in the division. Largely because of this, the entire division is considered one very large and very heated rivalry. When the Raiders played in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from 1982 to 1994, they remained in the AFC West.
The Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
played the last two AFL seasons in the AFL West despite being further east than Houston, where the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
played at the time and were members of the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
. The Bengals (along with the Oilers) moved to the AFC Central (formerly the NFL Century, now the AFC North
AFC North
The American Football Conference North Division, or AFC North, is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created prior to the 1967 season as the NFL Century Division when the NFL split into four divisions...
) in 1970, instantly forming rivalries with the Cleveland Browns
Battle of Ohio (NFL)
In the National Football League, the Battle of Ohio refers to games played between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. This rivalry has produced 2 of the 8 highest scoring games in NFL history...
and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1977, the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
were added to the AFC West after spending their expansion
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
season in the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
; they would move back to the NFC West in 2002.
Each of the four AFC West teams won a division title in the first four years of the realignment – Oakland in 2002
2002 Oakland Raiders season
-AFC Championship Game:-References:...
, Kansas City in 2003
2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2003 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 13–3 record, beginning with a nine-game winning streak—the franchise’s best start in their 40-year history. The Chiefs won the AFC West and clinched the second seed in the playoffs...
, San Diego in 2004
2004 San Diego Chargers season
The 2004 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2003. They finished the campaign 1st in their division and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets...
and Denver in 2005
2005 Denver Broncos season
In 2005 the Denver Broncos ended the 2005 regular season with a 13–3 record, the franchise's second-best number of wins of all time and their third best win percentage ever. They won their first playoff game since winning Super Bowl XXXIII in the 1998 season...
. It is the only one of the eight NFL divisions to have all of its teams win titles in the first four seasons of the North-East-West-South format.
ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Chris Berman often calls this division the "AFC Smythe" due to its geographical similarity to the old Smythe Division
Smythe Division
The NHL's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Conn Smythe. It is the fore-runner of the NHL's Northwest Division and NHL's Pacific Division....
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, now succeeded by the Pacific
Pacific Division (NHL)
The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...
and Northwest
Northwest Division (NHL)
The NHL's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981–1993...
divisions.
In recent years, the division is often cited as one of the NFL's "Toughest Divisions" due partially to the home-field advantages of Invesco Field
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
, Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
and the Oakland Coliseum (The Black Hole), although in 2008
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
the division was the NFL's weakest since the AFC Central in 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
by sending the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to the playoffs as division winners with an 8–8 record while the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
missed out at 11–5 after losing out on tiebreakers for both the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
and the wild-card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
. Only the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
in 2010 has historically sent a worse division winner to the playoffs, when the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(themselves a former AFC West member) won that division with a 7-9 record.
Along with the AFC (formerly AFL) East, the AFC West is the oldest NFL division in terms of creation date (1960).
Division lineups
1960- Dallas Texans
- Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Four teams of the above are enfranchised in the American Football League's Western Division
1961–62
- Dallas Texans
- Denver Broncos
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Los Angeles moved to San Diego.
1963–67
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
Dallas moved to Kansas City as the Chiefs.
1968–69
- Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
Cincinnati Bengals are enfranchised.
1970–75
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
Due to the AFL-NFL Merger
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
, the AFL Western Division becomes AFC West. Cincinnati moved to AFC Central.
1976
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
- Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are enfranchised.
1977–81
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
- Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
Seattle moved in from NFC West, Tampa Bay moved to NFC Central.
1982–94
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
- Seattle Seahawks
Oakland moved to Los Angeles.
1995–2001
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
- Seattle Seahawks
L.A. Raiders moved back to Oakland.
2002–present
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Oakland Raiders
- San Diego Chargers
Seattle moved to NFC West.
Division champions
{| class="wikitable"|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Season !! Team !! Record !! Playoff Results
|-
| 1960 || Los Angeles Chargers || 10–4–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
1960 American Football League Championship Game
The 1960 American Football League Championship Game was the first AFL title game. The game was played on New Year's Day 1961 at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas.-Background:...
|-
| 1961 || San Diego Chargers
1961 San Diego Chargers season
The 1961 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–4 record in 1960. It was their first season in San Diego where they have remained ever since. Like the previous season, it ended with a loss in the AFL Championship game....
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
1961 American Football League Championship Game
The 1961 American Football League Championship Game was a repeat the first AFL title game, between the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers...
|-
| 1962 || Dallas Texans || 11–3–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
1962 American Football League Championship Game
The 1962 American Football League Championship Game was played at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas on December 23, 1962.-Background:The day saw the Eastern Division's 11-3 Houston Oilers in the title game for their third straight year, against the West's Dallas Texans, also at 11-3...
|-
| 1963 || San Diego Chargers
1963 San Diego Chargers season
The 1963 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–10 record in 1962. They won their only AFL Championship with a win over the Boston Patriots. Lance Alworth was named the league M.V.P....
|| 11–3–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
AFL playoffs, 1963
*Eastern Division playoff*:Boston Patriots 26, Buffalo Bills 8, December 28, 1963, War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York*AFL Championship Game*:San Diego Chargers 51, Boston Patriots 10, January 5, 1964, Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California-1963 Championship:...
|-
| 1964 || San Diego Chargers
1964 San Diego Chargers season
The 1964 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to repeat as AFL champions having won in 1963 with a recourd of 11–3.-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-See also:*1964 AFL season...
|| 8–5–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1965 || San Diego Chargers
1965 San Diego Chargers season
The 1965 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–5–1 record in 1964.-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-See also:*1965 AFL season...
|| 9–2–3 || Lost AFL Championship Game
|-
| 1966 || Kansas City Chiefs
1966 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1966 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with the Chiefs' second AFL Championship and first since their relocation to Kansas City, Missouri. Instead of finishing the season with the AFL Championship win, the Chiefs were invited to play in the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game, later known...
|| 11–2–1 || Lost Super Bowl I
Super Bowl I
The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
|-
| 1967 || Oakland Raiders
1967 Oakland Raiders season
With only one game played during the AFL's opening week, the Raiders' season began on September 10, 1967, with a 51–0 wipeout of the Denver Broncos in front of a home crowd of just more than 25,000. Running back Hewritt Dixon caught one touchdown pass and ran for another. Warren Powers capped the...
|| 13–1–0 || Lost Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
|-
| 1968 || Oakland Raiders
1968 Oakland Raiders season
-Staff:HC: John RauchAst: John Polonchek , Ollie Spencer , Tom Dahms , John Madden , Charlie Sumner , Marv Marinovich -References:...
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
AFL playoffs, 1968
1968 playoffsWestern Division playoffOakland Raiders 41, Kansas City Chiefs 6Scoring*OAK - Biletnikoff 24 pass from Lamonica *OAK - Wells 23 pass from Lamonica *OAK - Biletnikoff 44 pass from Lamonica...
|-
| 1969 || Oakland Raiders
1969 Oakland Raiders season
Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7-Scoring Summary:*OAK – Smith 3 run *KC – Haynes 1 run *KC – Holmes 5 run *KC – Field goal Stenerud 22-Awards and honors:* Daryle Lamonica, Co-AFL MVP...
|| 12–1–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
AFL playoffs, 1969
-Playoffs:-Divisional playoffs:Kansas City Chiefs 13, New York Jets 6|referee= Jack ReaderScoring*NY - Field goal Turner 27*KC - Field goal Stenerud 23*KC - Field goal Stenerud 25*NY - Field goal Turner 7...
|-
| 1970 || Oakland Raiders
1970 Oakland Raiders season
-Awards and honors:*George Blanda, Associated Press Athlete of the Year*George Blanda, Bert Bell Award-References:**...
|| 8–4–2 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1970-71
The NFL playoffs following the 1970 NFL season led up to Super Bowl V.This was the first playoff tournament after the AFL-NFL Merger. An eight-team playoff tournament was designed, with four clubs from each conference qualifying...
|-
| 1971 || Kansas City Chiefs
1971 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1971 Kansas City Chiefs season saw the club bounce back from a 7–5–2 campaign in 1970 to record a 10–3–1 mark and win the AFC West division championship, the Chiefs' first division title since 1966...
|| 10–3–1 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1971-72
The NFL playoffs following the 1971 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VI. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road...
|-
| 1972 || Oakland Raiders
1972 Oakland Raiders season
The 1972 Oakland Raiders season was the team’s 13th season. The Raiders won the AFC West for the second time in three seasons. They lost in the AFC Division Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers when Franco Harris scored the game-winning touchdown on the Immaculate Reception...
|| 10–3–1 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1972-73
The NFL playoffs following the 1972 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VII. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road.-Bracket:...
|-
| 1973 || Oakland Raiders
1973 Oakland Raiders season
The 1973 Oakland Raiders season was the team’s 14th season. For the third time in four seasons, the Raiders won the AFC West title. They exacted a measure of revenge by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Division Round game, one year following the Immaculate Reception loss...
|| 9–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1973-74
The NFL playoffs following the 1973 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VIII. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road.-Bracket:...
|-
| 1974 || Oakland Raiders
1974 Oakland Raiders season
The 1974 Oakland Raiders season was the team’s 15th season. For the fourth time in five seasons, the Raiders earned the AFC West title. For the second straight campaign, the Raiders gained revenge in the playoffs against the tea that had eliminated them the season before...
|| 12–2–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1974-75
The NFL playoffs following the 1974 NFL season led up to Super Bowl IX. This was the last season in which the sites for the playoff games annually alternated by division.-Bracket:-AFC: Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26:...
|-
| 1975 || Oakland Raiders
1975 Oakland Raiders season
-Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Oakland Raiders 10:-Awards and honors:*George Blanda, most seasons in American professional football *George Blanda, most games played, -References:**...
|| 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1975-76
The NFL playoffs following the 1975 NFL season led up to Super Bowl X. This was the first season in which the league used a seeding system in the playoffs. Thus, the surviving clubs with the higher seeds were made the home teams for each playoff round...
|-
| 1976 || Oakland Raiders
1976 Oakland Raiders season
-Season:The Road to their first World Championship began on opening day as they faced the reigning world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In their home opener, Oakland trailed 28–14 with just over five minutes to play, yet orchestrated what many to this day refer to as their Comeback Classic of 1976...
|| 13–1–0 || Won Super Bowl XI
Super Bowl XI
Super Bowl XI was a football game played on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1976 regular season...
|-
| 1977 || Denver Broncos
1977 Denver Broncos season
The 1977 Denver Broncos season was the team's 18th year in professional football and its 8th with the National Football League. The team had its best season by far finishing first in the AFC West and making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history....
|| 12–2–0 || Lost Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
|-
| 1978 || Denver Broncos
1978 Denver Broncos season
The 1978 Denver Broncos season was the team's 19th year in professional football and its 9th with the National Football League. The team finished first in the AFC West, and made the playoffs for the second straight season.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:...
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1978-79
The NFL playoffs following the 1978 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIII.This was the first year that the playoffs expanded to a ten-team format, adding a second wild card team from each conference...
|-
| 1979 || San Diego Chargers
1979 San Diego Chargers season
The 1979 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 1978. They made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1979-80
The NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the Dallas Cowboys did not play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: Houston Oilers 13,...
|-
| 1980 || San Diego Chargers
1980 San Diego Chargers season
The 1980 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 12–4 record in 1979. They won their first playoff game in 17 years...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1980-81
The NFL playoffs following the 1980 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XV.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the San Diego Chargers did not play the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: Oakland Raiders 27,...
|-
| 1981 || San Diego Chargers
1981 San Diego Chargers season
The 1981 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 1980. In the playoffs they beat the Dolphins in a game known as the Epic in Miami and lost to the Bengals in a game known as the Freezer Bowl....
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1981-82
The NFL playoffs following the 1981 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVI. Both conference champions had losing records the previous season, the only time this has happened. All four of the AFC playoff games were between teams who had never faced each other in the postseason before...
|-
| 1982# || Los Angeles Raiders
1982 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1982 Los Angeles Raiders season began with the team trying to improve on their 7–9 record from 1981. This is the first of thirteen seasons for the Raiders in Los Angeles.-Offseason:-Schedule:-Standings: -Post season:-See also:...
|| 8–1–0 || Lost AFC Second Round
NFL playoffs, 1982-83
The NFL playoffs following the 1982 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVII.A players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff format , just for this year. Division standings were ignored...
|-
| 1983 || Los Angeles Raiders
1983 Los Angeles Raiders season
-Schedule:-Los Angeles Raiders 38, Pittsburgh Steelers 10:The Raiders scored 3 touchdowns in the third quarter en route to a 38–10 win over the Steelers. In the first quarter, Pittsburgh advanced on a 78-yard drive, but when faced with fourth down and inches near the goal line, they opted for...
|| 12–4–0 || Won Super Bowl XVIII
Super Bowl XVIII
Super Bowl XVIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1984, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida, deciding the National Football League champion following the 1983 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Los Angeles Raiders defeated the National Football Conference...
|-
| 1984 || Denver Broncos
1984 Denver Broncos season
The 1984 Denver Broncos season was the team's 25th year in professional football and its 15th with the National Football League. The team finished with its then franchise best record of thirteen wins and three losses and were champions of the AFC West...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1984-85
The NFL playoffs following the 1984 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIX.The two wild card games were held on different days because both venues were in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The NFL did not schedule prime time playoff games on the east coast until 2002. Normally, playoff games started at...
|-
| 1985 || Los Angeles Raiders
1985 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1985 Los Angeles Raiders season was their 26th in the league. They improved upon their previous season's output of 11–5, winning 12 games. The team qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight season.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-MVP:...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1985-86
The NFL playoffs following the 1985 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XX.Because the Jets and Giants both used Giants Stadium as their home field, the two wild card playoff games were held on different days.-AFC: New England Patriots 26, New York Jets 14:...
|-
| 1986 || Denver Broncos
1986 Denver Broncos season
-Regular season:The Broncos won their first six games of the season, before being felled by the then-5-1 New York Jets on Monday Night Football. They won two more games to improve to 8–1, tied with the Jets for the best record in the league...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
|-
| 1987 || Denver Broncos
1987 Denver Broncos season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
|| 10–4–1 || Lost Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
|-
| 1988 || Seattle Seahawks
1988 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1988 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League.-1988 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1988-89
The NFL playoffs following the 1988 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIII.Due to Christmas, the two wild card playoff games were held in a span of three days....
|-
| 1989 || Denver Broncos
1989 Denver Broncos season
-Regular season:One of Denver's new major additions was rookie running back Bobby Humphrey, who rushed for 1,151 yards, caught 22 passes for 156 yards, and scored 8 touchdowns. Humphrey gave the Broncos a powerful running attack that they lacked in their previous Super Bowl seasons. The defense had...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
|-
| 1990 || Los Angeles Raiders
1990 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1990 Los Angeles Raiders season was the club's 31st season in the National Football League . Led by Coach of the Year Art Shell, the club appeared in its first AFC Championship Game since the 1983 season, but lost a lopsided affair to the Buffalo Bills, 51–3.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Game details:*...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1990-91
The NFL playoffs following the 1990 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXV.The league expanded its playoff system from a 10-team to a 12-team tournament...
|-
| 1991 || Denver Broncos
1991 Denver Broncos season
-Schedule:-AFC Championship Game:Buffalo relied on missed field goals by Denver and some key plays from their defense to narrowly defeat the Broncos in a tough defensive struggle. Although the first half was scoreless, the Broncos advanced into Buffalo territory on all five of their possessions in...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1991-92
The NFL playoffs following the 1991 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVI.-Bracket:-AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 10, Los Angeles Raiders 6:Chiefs Quarterback Steve DeBerg completed a play-action 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Jones in the second quarter, which was the difference in K.C.'s...
|-
| 1992 || San Diego Chargers
1992 San Diego Chargers season
The 1992 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 1991. It was Bobby Ross' first season as the teams head coach. They made the playoffs for the first time in ten years...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1992-93
The NFL playoffs following the 1992 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVII.-Bracket:-NFC: Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7:Running back Brian Mitchell led the Redskins to the 24-7 victory with 109 rushing yards and 100 total yards on receptions and punt returns...
|-
| 1993 || Kansas City Chiefs
1993 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1993 Kansas City Chiefs season was arguably the franchise's most successful in 22 years: The Chiefs won the AFC Western Division and finished with a 11–5 record...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1993-94
The NFL playoffs following the 1993 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVIII. Since the 1993 regular season was conducted over 18 weeks , the traditional bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl was removed.-Bracket:...
|-
| 1994 || San Diego Chargers
1994 San Diego Chargers season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game played on January 29, 1995 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1994 regular season...
|-
| 1995 || Kansas City Chiefs
1995 Kansas City Chiefs season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1995-96
The NFL playoffs following the 1995 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXX.-Bracket:-AFC: Buffalo Bills 37, Miami Dolphins 22:Although Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino completed 33 out of 64 passes for 422 yards, the Bills jumped to a 27-0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and rushed for an NFL...
|-
| 1996 || Denver Broncos
1996 Denver Broncos season
-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Awards and records:Pro BowlQB John ElwayRB Terrell DavisTE Shannon SharpeT Gary ZimmermanDE Alfred WilliamsDT Michael PerryLB Bill RomanowskiS Steve AtwaterS Tyrone BraxtonAP Offensive Player of the Year – Terrell Davis...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1996-97
The NFL playoffs following the 1996 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXI. This post-season was remarkable in that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers each made it all the way to their respective conference championships, only two years after their inception into the league as expansion...
|-
| 1997 || Kansas City Chiefs
1997 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1997 Kansas City Chiefs were an above-average football team without any major flaws. The 1997 Chiefs are widely considered a major disappointment. The Chiefs finished with a 13–3 record and AFC West division champions...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1997-98
The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII.-Bracket:-NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Giants 22:The Vikings scored 10 points in the final 90 seconds of the game to stun the Giants.-AFC: Denver Broncos 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 17:Denver ran over the Jaguars with...
|-
| 1998 || Denver Broncos
1998 Denver Broncos season
In 1998 the Denver Broncos had a record of 14–2, second best in the NFL, and won Super Bowl XXXIII. It was John Elway's final season and the season Terrell Davis ran for 2,008 yards, making him only the fourth player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season....
|| 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
|-
| 1999 || Seattle Seahawks
1999 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1999 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 24th season with the National Football League. The 1999 season was the final season the Seahawks played at the Kingdome and was head coach Mike Holmgren's first season with the team...
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1999-2000
The NFL playoffs following the 1999 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXIV.These playoffs were notable in that all outdoor games were played with gametime temperatures of 50°F or higher, making for one of the warmest playoff seasons of all time...
|-
| 2000 || Oakland Raiders
2000 Oakland Raiders season
-Awards and records:* Led NFL, Net Yards Gained, Rushing * Led NFL, First Downs, Rushing * Led NFL, Rushing Offense * Eric Allen, AFC Defensive Player of the Month, December * Rich Gannon, Bert Bell Award...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 2000-01
The NFL playoffs following the 2000 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXV.This would be the last time that playoff games would be played at the accustomed times of 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST...
|-
| 2001 || Oakland Raiders
2001 Oakland Raiders season
-AFC Divisional Playoff:-References:...
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2001-02
The NFL playoffs following the 2001 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVI.For the first time, the NFL scheduled prime time playoff games for the first two rounds in an attempt to attract more television viewers. Saturday wild card and divisional playoff games were moved from 12:30 p.m. and 4:00...
|-
| 2002 || Oakland Raiders
2002 Oakland Raiders season
-AFC Championship Game:-References:...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
|-
| 2003 || Kansas City Chiefs
2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2003 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 13–3 record, beginning with a nine-game winning streak—the franchise’s best start in their 40-year history. The Chiefs won the AFC West and clinched the second seed in the playoffs...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2003-04
The NFL playoffs following the 2003 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVIII.Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoffs games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly-rated...
|-
| 2004 || San Diego Chargers
2004 San Diego Chargers season
The 2004 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2003. They finished the campaign 1st in their division and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets...
|| 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2004-05
The NFL playoffs following the 2004 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXIX.-NFC: St. Louis Rams 27, Seattle Seahawks 20:Although the Rams barely made the playoffs with an 8–8 record, two of their regular season wins were against Seattle...
|-
| 2005 || Denver Broncos
2005 Denver Broncos season
In 2005 the Denver Broncos ended the 2005 regular season with a 13–3 record, the franchise's second-best number of wins of all time and their third best win percentage ever. They won their first playoff game since winning Super Bowl XXXIII in the 1998 season...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 2005-06
The National Football League playoffs for the 2005 season began on January 7, 2006 and led up to Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan....
|-
| 2006 || San Diego Chargers
2006 San Diego Chargers season
The 2006 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005. They finished the campaign as the #1 seed in the AFC ending the season at 14–2, best record in the NFL...
|| 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2007 || San Diego Chargers
2007 San Diego Chargers season
The 2007 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to equal their 2006 regular season success and avoid another early departure in the playoffs. After a disappointing start under new head coach Norv Turner , they finished the regular season strong, with six straight wins, an overall...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
|-
| 2008 || San Diego Chargers
2008 San Diego Chargers season
The 2008 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 49th overall season and their 39th in the NFL. While they completed the regular season with only an 8–8 record, they nonetheless captured their third consecutive AFC West championship...
|| 8–8–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
|-
| 2009 || San Diego Chargers
2009 San Diego Chargers season
The 2009 San Diego Chargers season was the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. The Chargers improved upon their regular season record of 8–8 in 2008 and won their division for the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons...
|| 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
2009–10 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2009 season began on January 9, 2010 and led up to Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida...
|-
| 2010 || Kansas City Chiefs
2010 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2010 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st overall and the second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. The team improved on its 4–12 record from 2009, and won their first AFC West division title...
|| 10-6-0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
2010–11 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2010 season began on January 8, 2011 and led up to Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas....
- !The Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
tied for the regular season division title at 12–2–0. The Raiders won the ensuing playoff game to represent the West in the AFL Championship Game. - #A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored, the Los Angeles Raiders had the best record of the division teams.
Wild Card qualifiers
{| class="wikitable"|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Season !! Team !! Record !! Playoff Results
|-
| 1969 || Kansas City Chiefs
1969 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 11–3 record and a 23–7 victory in Super Bowl IV over the NFL’s heavily-favored Minnesota Vikings. The team beat their rivals, the Oakland Raiders in the final AFL Championship Game, claiming their third AFL Championship in franchise history...
|| 11–3–0 || Won Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
|-
| 1970 || None || – || –
|-
| 1971 || None || – || –
|-
| 1972 || None || – || –
|-
| 1973 || None || – || –
|-
| 1974 || None || – || –
|-
| 1975 || None || – || –
|-
| 1976 || None || – || –
|-
| 1977 || Oakland Raiders
1977 Oakland Raiders season
-Regular season:-Playoffs:Oakland won the wild card playoffs in 1977 and later won the divisional playoffs in a game against the Baltimore Colts when Errol Mann tied the game with a field goal...
|| 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1977-78
The NFL playoffs following the 1977 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XII.Due to Christmas, the Divisional playoff games were held in a span of three days. The AFC playoff games were played on December 24 while the NFC games were held on December 26...
|-
| 1978 || None || – || –
|-
| 1979 || Denver Broncos
1979 Denver Broncos season
The 1979 Denver Broncos season was the team's 20th year in professional football and its 10th with the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-References:* *...
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1979-80
The NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the Dallas Cowboys did not play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: Houston Oilers 13,...
|-
| 1980 || Oakland Raiders
1980 Oakland Raiders season
-Staff:HC: Tom FloresAst: Ray Willsey , Lew Erber , Sam Boghosian , Earl Leggett , Charlie Sumner , Chet Franklin , Steve Ortmayer , Bob Mischak , Joe Madro , Willie Brown -Regular season:...
|| 11–5–0 || Won Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
|-
| 1981 || None || – || –
|-
| 1982+ || San Diego Chargers
1982 San Diego Chargers season
The 1982 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–6 record in 1981. It was a strike-shorten season so the league was divided up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment. It ended with a second round loss to the...
|| 6–3–0 || Lost AFC Second Round
NFL playoffs, 1982-83
The NFL playoffs following the 1982 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVII.A players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff format , just for this year. Division standings were ignored...
|-
| 1983 || Seattle Seahawks
1983 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1983 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's eighth season with the National Football League. The 1983 season was the first season head coach Chuck Knox coached the team.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
Denver Broncos
1983 Denver Broncos season
The 1983 Denver Broncos season was the team's 24th year in professional football and its 14th with the National Football League. The franchise experienced a turning point as it traded for quarterback John Elway.-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:...
|| 9–7–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 1983-84
The NFL playoffs following the 1983 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVIII.Due to Christmas, the two wild card playoff games were played in a span of three days....
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1983-84
The NFL playoffs following the 1983 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVIII.Due to Christmas, the two wild card playoff games were played in a span of three days....
|-
| 1984 || Seattle Seahawks
1984 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1984 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's ninth season with the National Football League.-1984 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
Los Angeles Raiders
1984 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1984 Los Angeles Raiders season was their 25th in the league. They failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only eleven games. Despite finishing third in their division, the team qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive...
|| 12–4–0
11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1984-85
The NFL playoffs following the 1984 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIX.The two wild card games were held on different days because both venues were in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The NFL did not schedule prime time playoff games on the east coast until 2002. Normally, playoff games started at...
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1984-85
The NFL playoffs following the 1984 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIX.The two wild card games were held on different days because both venues were in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The NFL did not schedule prime time playoff games on the east coast until 2002. Normally, playoff games started at...
|-
| 1985 || None || – || –
|-
| 1986 || Kansas City Chiefs
1986 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 15–35....
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1986-87
The NFL playoffs following the 1986 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXI.Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season , the New York Giants did not play the Washington Redskins in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.-AFC: New York Jets...
|-
| 1987 || Seattle Seahawks
1987 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1987 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 12th season with the National Football League.-1987 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Regular season:A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4-6...
|| 9–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1987-88
The NFL playoffs following the 1987 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXII.-NFC: Minnesota Vikings 44, New Orleans Saints 10:In the Saints' first playoff game in history, the Vikings dominated the game by recording 2 sacks, forcing 4 turnovers, and allowing only 149 yards...
|-
| 1988 || None || – || –
|-
| 1989 || None || – || –
|-
| 1990 || Kansas City Chiefs
1990 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, the lost to the Miami Dolphins 16–17 in the Wild Card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1990-91
The NFL playoffs following the 1990 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXV.The league expanded its playoff system from a 10-team to a 12-team tournament...
|-
| 1991 || Kansas City Chiefs
1991 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1992 playoffs. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970...
Los Angeles Raiders
1991 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1991 Los Angeles Raiders season was their 32nd in the league. They were unable to improve upon their previous season's output of 12–4, winning only nine games. The team qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season.-Roster:-Schedule:...
|| 10–6–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1991-92
The NFL playoffs following the 1991 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVI.-Bracket:-AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 10, Los Angeles Raiders 6:Chiefs Quarterback Steve DeBerg completed a play-action 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Jones in the second quarter, which was the difference in K.C.'s...
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1991-92
The NFL playoffs following the 1991 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVI.-Bracket:-AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 10, Los Angeles Raiders 6:Chiefs Quarterback Steve DeBerg completed a play-action 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Jones in the second quarter, which was the difference in K.C.'s...
|-
| 1992 || Kansas City Chiefs
1992 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1993 playoffs. The Chiefs were shut out by the San Diego Chargers 0–17 in the Wild Card round....
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1992-93
The NFL playoffs following the 1992 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVII.-Bracket:-NFC: Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7:Running back Brian Mitchell led the Redskins to the 24-7 victory with 109 rushing yards and 100 total yards on receptions and punt returns...
|-
| 1993 || Los Angeles Raiders
1993 Los Angeles Raiders season
The 1993 Los Angeles Raiders season was the club’s 34th season in the NFL.-Offseason:During the offseason the Raiders signed quarterback Jeff Hostetler from the New York Giants to lead the offense. Joe Kelly a former first round pick of the Bengals was signed to fill the middle lineback slot...
Denver Broncos
1993 Denver Broncos season
The 1993 Denver Broncos season was the team's 34th year in professional football and its 24th with the National Football League.-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-Postseason:-Awards and records:...
|| 10–6–0
9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1993-94
The NFL playoffs following the 1993 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVIII. Since the 1993 regular season was conducted over 18 weeks , the traditional bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl was removed.-Bracket:...
Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1993-94
The NFL playoffs following the 1993 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVIII. Since the 1993 regular season was conducted over 18 weeks , the traditional bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl was removed.-Bracket:...
|-
| 1994 || Kansas City Chiefs
1994 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 9–7 record and Wild Card spot in the 1995 playoffs. The Chiefs lost to the Miami Dolphins 27–17 in the Wild Card round. Alongside celebrating the NFL's 75th anniversary season, the Chiefs also honored their 35th season as a franchise...
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1994-95
The NFL playoffs following the 1994 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIX.-Bracket:-NFC: Green Bay Packers 16, Detroit Lions 12:The Packers defense held Lions running back Barry Sanders to -1 rushing yards, while holding Detroit to 12 points and -4 yards on the ground. Green Bay scored first when...
|-
| 1995 || San Diego Chargers
1995 San Diego Chargers season
The 1995 San Diego Chargers season began with the team as reigning AFC champions and trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 1994. It ended in the first round with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts....
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1995-96
The NFL playoffs following the 1995 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXX.-Bracket:-AFC: Buffalo Bills 37, Miami Dolphins 22:Although Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino completed 33 out of 64 passes for 422 yards, the Bills jumped to a 27-0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and rushed for an NFL...
|-
| 1996 || None || – || –
|-
| 1997 || Denver Broncos
1997 Denver Broncos season
The Denver Broncos finished the 1997 NFL season by winning Super Bowl XXXII. They went 12–4 during the regular season. The Broncos were the third team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl but not win the Division Title.- Season summary :...
|| 12–4–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII
Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1997 regular season...
|-
| 1998 || None || – || –
|-
| 1999 || None || – || –
|-
| 2000 || Denver Broncos
2000 Denver Broncos season
The 2000 Denver Broncos season was the team's 41st year in professional football and its 31st with the National Football League. It also was the team's final year at the famous Mile High Stadium.-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-Postseason:...
|| 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2000-01
The NFL playoffs following the 2000 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXV.This would be the last time that playoff games would be played at the accustomed times of 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST...
|-
| 2001 || None || – || –
|-
| 2002 || None || – || –
|-
| 2003 || Denver Broncos
2003 Denver Broncos season
The 2003 Denver Broncos season was the team's 44th year in professional football and its 34th with the National Football League.-Staff:-Schedule:-References:* *...
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2003-04
The NFL playoffs following the 2003 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVIII.Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoffs games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly-rated...
|-
| 2004 || Denver Broncos
2004 Denver Broncos season
The 2004 Denver Broncos season was the team's 45th year in professional football and its 35th with the National Football League.-Staff:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:* *...
|| 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2004-05
The NFL playoffs following the 2004 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXIX.-NFC: St. Louis Rams 27, Seattle Seahawks 20:Although the Rams barely made the playoffs with an 8–8 record, two of their regular season wins were against Seattle...
|-
| 2005 || None || – || –
|-
| 2006 || Kansas City Chiefs
2006 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 10–6 record in 2005 under new head coach Herman Edwards.The team battled many obstacles during the 2006 season, including the loss of starting quarterback Trent Green in the first game, the readjustment of a...
|| 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
|-
| 2007 || None || – || –
|-
| 2008 || None|| – || –
|-
| 2009 || None|| – || –
|-
| 2010 || None|| – || –
- A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored, the Los Angeles Raiders had the best record of the division teams.
Total playoff berths
{| class="wikitable"|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Team !! Division Championships !! Playoff Berths !! Super Bowl Wins/Appearances
|-
| Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
1 || 15 || 21 || 3/5
|-
| San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|| 15 || 17 || 0/1
|-
| Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|| 10 || 17 || 2/6
|-
| Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
|| 8! || 16 || 1/2
|-
| Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
2 || 2 || 5 || 0/03
|}
! Chiefs finished 1968 tied for first with Raiders, but lost ensuing playoff game.
1 Known as the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982 until 1994, before moving back to Oakland.
2 Realigned into the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
prior to the 2002 NFL season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
.
3 Have played in one Super Bowl after realignment to NFC.