LA Chargers: 3 reasons why the playoffs are out of reach in 2020
By Jason Reed
2. The AFC has too many talented teams that will be better than the LA Chargers
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there are several AFC teams that are in a much better position to make the NFL Playoffs than the LA Chargers. Of course, anything can happen and that is why we play the season, but it is quite easy to pick out three wild-card teams and not get to the Chargers, especially with the scheduling.
The Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are near locks to win their division. Then you have a team like the Indianapolis Colts who, love it or hate it, are better with Philip Rivers under center. There are your four division winners.
What about the other wild-card teams? Unfortunately, I think the Denver Broncos are going to be better than the Chargers. They surrounded Drew Lock with weapons and they have the best natural home-field advantage in the league without fans because of the elevation. Plus, unlike the Chargers, their four-toughest out of division games are all at home.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are another team that will most likely make it. Pittsburgh has an elite defense, a better offensive line than the Chargers and the return of Big Ben. Sure, he may no longer be a top-five or even top-10 quarterback but he is miles better than Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges and that team went 8-8 last season.
That leaves the last spot to be fought over by the likes of the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and even the Houston Texans (who still have a top-five quarterback, don’t forget).
There are just too many cooks in the kitchen.