The second month of the NFL regular season is in the books. Denver Broncos We stand at 5-3.

The Broncos’ defense was outstanding, holding October opponents to 16 points per game. He’s found a groove on offense, especially quarterback Bo Nix, who is the NFL’s top statistical rookie signal-caller of the month with nine total touchdowns and 870 passing yards.

The rest of the AFC West experienced challenges and triumphs throughout October, but the league crown is still within reach come November. Let’s take a look at the AFC West to get an idea of ​​the progress of the Broncos’ fiercest rivals.

chefs They remained unbeaten for two months of football, mainly because their defense carefully examined every attack they faced. Of course, Patrick Mahomes will get all the love, but he has become a turnover machine this year and has been bailed out by his defense time and time again.

Although he lacks pass-catching ability, Mahomes has made some questionable interceptions, but with his defensive dominance, he doesn’t need to be great all the time for the Chiefs to win games.

Kansas City’s next four games Tampa Bay PiratesBroncos, Buffalo BillsAnd Carolina Panthers. The Bills and Broncos are threatening Kansas City’s undefeated record, but the Bucs and Panthers are in the turnstile, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Chiefs emerge from November with a 3-1 record.

What happens next in the Broncos game? Never miss any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter and get Broncos news delivered daily to your inbox!

Chargers They’ve also been solid defensively, as none of their October opponents scored more than 17 points. Broncos and New Orleans Saints The offenses have been rendered useless in their respective matchups and will continue to be a problem for any opposing offense moving forward.

However, LA’s offense was pretty inconsistent as the receiving core held them way back. Outside of rookie winger Ladd McConkey, the rest of the Chargers’ pass catchers can’t seem to find their groove. .

It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Chargers trade for a receiver to give them a boost in the passing game. Los Angeles’ next four games are against the USA Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati BengalsAnd Baltimore RavensIt’s a mixed bag in terms of difficulty.

If Justin Herbert can stay healthy, this team should be able to post a 2-2 record, but the Chargers’ offensive inconsistency could be their downfall.

Raiders We are one of the worst coached and managed teams in the NFL today, and if it weren’t for the Panthers they would easily be rock bottom. Neither quarterback is inspiring, and their play has proven that, as Gardner Minshew and Aiden O’Connell are bench players at best.

The Raiders traded Davante Adams so they could get miserable in New York instead of Vegas, leaving rookie tight end Brock Bowers as the lone bright spot on offense. The Raiders are sorely missing Josh Jacobs in the running game, and their offensive line has taken a hit all year, making it difficult for any runner to gain ground.

Looking ahead, Vegas faces the Bengals. Miami DolphinsIt’s the Broncos and the Chiefs, and honestly, they could suffer through a winless November.

The Broncos have a tough schedule ahead of them on the road against the Ravens and Chiefs, but these games are an opportunity to separate themselves from rival teams from the past few years.

The Broncos’ defense is strong and Nix and the offense are starting to figure things out, making them a dangerous foe going forward. November will decide whether the Broncos are bona fide contenders or just pretenders for the last eight years.

Follow the Denver Broncos at SI/Mile High Huddle X And Facebook and subscribe on YouTube for daily Broncos livestream podcasts!