The Chargers have to sweep the rest of their remaining opponents to make the postseason, but each has shown weakness as of late.
The Chargers will, at best, go 9-7 this season, something unlikely considering their team before the bye but entirely possible following it. Why? Because Derwin James, Adrian Phillips, and Russell Okung are set to return.
Three Pro-Bowl players return, and each are some of the best in the league at their respective positions. How much calmer did Philip Rivers look against the Green Bay Packers with Okung to his left? Imagine what Gus Bradley can do with a defense already only giving up 19.8 points per game and allowing the fifth-fewest total yards per game this season once his dynamite safety/linebacker hybrid stars return? There’s momentum there, and they’ve got to maintain it for five games.
The Chargers remaining opponents are as follows:
- Denver Broncos
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Minnesota Vikings
- Oakland Raiders
- Kansas City Chiefs
And they are all beatable.
This week, three of those teams played: The Broncos, the Jaguars, and the Raiders. The combined score from all three games: 26 points scored, 96 points allowed. All three teams lost.
The week prior, the Broncos shut out the Vikings 20-0 in the first half before collapsing in the second half.
Any Chiefs fan is happy with their win over the Chargers, but none can feel comfortable about a second win this season, as the Chargers truly dominated their rivals the entire game. If not for disastrous throws from Rivers, Los Angeles would have crushed them on Monday Night Football.
Now, fans have been here before. Should the Chargers win all their next five games? Actually, yes, and they’ve shown potential against some of the best of the AFC and NFC this season. However, whether it be injuries, any given Sunday, or an unlucky turn of events, the Chargers have found a way to lose games like these this season. But maybe, just maybe, the Chargers can activate one special power starting this Sunday: Philcember. That’s right, it’s the first day of the month of December. Bring it on.