Now the Chargers playoff hopes rest on either the Titans or Raiders beating the Chiefs at home (where they’re undefeated) or the unlikely event that both the Bears and Bills beat the Jets. The realization of this is what made me feel down yesterday. Out of those four teams only the Bears have a winning record and since they clinched their division last night they really have nothing to play for. But I woke up this morning, did some research and what I learned was like an espresso shot to my morale. I now think the Titans can beat the Chiefs. And here are four reasons why:
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They’re not. Technically, at least.

Forget the Wild Card. It’s the division or bust. Being only two games out of the lead with six games to go, anything could happen. If this sounds like a broken record, it is.

It seems week after week, loss after loss, players and fans alike are hanging on to the hope that Denver will collapse and the Chargers can patch together a few wins to pass them. When is this master plan supposed to come to fruition?

Let’s say the Chargers pull it together and take the division. What’s next? Early exit in the playoffs, finger pointing in the offseason, draft day, and then another season of trying to meet and exceed lofty expectations. The Bolts will not win the Super Bowl. I doubt they will make the playoffs.

Why? Two reasons.

First, injuries on defense mixed with a lack of comparable backup personnel peppered with a shaky coaching staff has made the Chargers hemorrhage points like a stuck pig.

Second, and quite simply, the running game has ran out. The running threat is non-existent.
And San Diego gets lay all this out at home on Sunday against the Colts. A team on a three game win streak that is battling for a Wild Card bid in a division that has the Titans with a near death-grip on the crown.

Indy has plenty to play for. Not sure what the Bolts have left to play for.

Appears that if Denver loses then it doesn’t matter how much the Chargers disappoint and under-perform. So, I say, “go whoever is playing the Broncos! Save the Chargers season… someone has to.”

As any football fan will tell you, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The Chargers finished the game.

In the first half of this Wild Card Playoff game the Chargers were bad, but they did not make a game-changing crucial mistake. It was six to zip at halftime. Down, but clearly not out.

The Bolts smashed back into the game with 17 unanswered points and earned a ticket to the next round of the playoffs, winning 17-6.

1994 was the last time the Chargers won a playoff game… history has been erased.

Even going into the fourth quarter the Chargers were down 17-3. The resolve notwithstanding, this San Diego team showed big game talent when it mattered the most. That is what a champion is about.

Each side of the ball stepped up for the Chargers in the second half. That locker room meeting must have been euphoric. A different team stepped onto the turf after halftime. It was clear the Titans challenged San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers to beat them. He did with a modestly triumphant 19-of-30 for 292 yards, and a pick.

The acquisition of wide receiver Chris Chambers is so vital now we’re in the playoffs- the implications are insurmountable seeing that he snagged six catches for 121 yards.

Going into next week the big question is Antonio Gates. How big is the toe injury? He went down late in the second half and the Bolts offense collectively had their heart skip a beat. News on the toe will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, the San Diego Chargers have won. Despite a porous half of play this resilient team seems ready to take on the reigning Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. Time for the Bolts to strike down the horseshoes.