:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57236357/861744562.0.jpg)
The last few weeks have been very interesting in the AFC West. Interesting to the Chargers benefit.
The Kansas City Chiefs were riding high at the top of the division, winning 5 straight and were the NFL’s last undefeated team. Then they stumbled and have lost 2 straight, including brutal last minute loss to the Oakland Raiders last night. Dropping the Chiefs to 5-2 and 1-1 in the Division.
The Denver Broncos were hot on the Chiefs’ tails, until an ugly loss last week to the 0-5 New York Giants. They now have to travel to LA to take on the Chargers, the same Chargers who were a FG away from taking them to overtime in Denver in week 1. They must do this without their #2 WR and a QB in Trevor Siemian who in the last 3 games has thrown 4 INT to only 2 TDs while only completing 59% of his passes.
The Oakland Raiders were briefly in last place in the AFC West behind the LA Chargers, after losing to the Bolts last week, until they rallied to beat the Chiefs last night. With a questionable secondary and an offense still trying to find a groove, they also look shaky.
Which brings us to the LA Chargers. After starting 0-4, they’ve won 2 straight. Not only have they won 2 straight, but both were won in very un-Chargers fashion, coming on game winning drives at the end of the 4th. 1 of those wins came against a division opponent, the Raiders, IN Oakland.
Maybe John Gennaro was right the other day. Maybe everyone DOES suck this year. And the Chargers are starting to suck less.
So what does all that mean?
It means that after starting 0-4, and being written off by basically everyone, including me if I’m being totally honest, the Chargers could be right back in the thick of things if they can beat the Broncos this weekend.
If the Chargers can win, the AFC West will look like this:
Chiefs 5-2 (1-1 Division)
Broncos 3-3 (2-1 Division)
Chargers 3-4 (2-2 Division)
Raiders 3-4 (1-2 Division)
A win this weekend carries the Chargers momentum into New England against a Patriots team that has shown they are beatable this season, helps keep pace with the rest of the AFC West, and for the first time this season, would give the Chargers ACTUAL hope for the rest of the season.