Sean Payton retakes offensive reins in Denver — AFC West roundup

There were no AFC West games on the field, but plenty of movement on the headsets. The Denver Broncos are reshuffling their offensive structure, while the Kansas City Chiefs continue to look every bit like the class of the division and a serious Super Bowl threat.

Broncos: Payton steps back in on offense

Pro Football Rumors reports that head coach Sean Payton will increase his involvement in the Broncos’ offensive play-calling after handing those duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb in the offseason. Citing a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Pro Football Rumors notes that Payton plans to retake the role after just four games, a move CBS Sports frames as an experiment that failed to spark a struggling attack. At 2-2 in the AFC West, Denver is clearly looking for an offensive jolt to keep pace in a division topped by unbeaten Kansas City.

Pro Football Rumors also relays that fallout from Denver’s Week 4 matchup with San Francisco will linger. 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is expected to miss two to three games with a knee injury suffered in San Francisco’s win over the Broncos. An MRI revealed a bone bruise and a sprain that will sideline him for multiple weeks.

Chiefs: ground game and defense ease the load on Mahomes

At 4-0, the Kansas City Chiefs are once again positioning themselves as a top Super Bowl contender, according to CBS Sports. The outlet points to running back Kenneth Walker III and his league-leading ground production, along with Steve Spagnuolo’s revamped, pressure-heavy defense, as key reasons the burden on Patrick Mahomes is lighter than in past seasons. That balance only tightens Kansas City’s grip on the division lead.

Raiders and Chargers chasing early

Behind the Chiefs, the Las Vegas Raiders sit at 3-1 and remain firmly in the hunt in the AFC West race. On the opposite end, the Los Angeles Chargers have fallen to 0-4 and already face an uphill battle. With Kansas City surging and Denver making aggressive changes, every adjustment across the division could quickly reshape the playoff picture.