The Los Angeles Chargers have already had a bit of a rollercoaster of a season, swinging wildly between the highs of game-winning field goals and the lows of offensive and defensive stagnancy as they have come to a 5-3 record following Week 8.
Thankfully, however, their next stretch of games, extending through their bye week and into Week 13, could represent a bit of a reprieve from the tough competition they have been facing. However, in order to have a chance to seize control of the AFC West, the Chargers must take full advantage of these next four games, making this next stretch one that could possibly make-or-break their season.
Over the next five weeks, Los Angeles will play the Tennessee Titans, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders, with the Pittsburgh and Las Vegas games being at home.
While obviously none of these games are guaranteed victories, the Chargers should have a serious chance to win each of them, and a long winning streak could leave them well-poised heading into the final portion of the season.
The Chargers could very possibly be 9-3 by the time we get to Week 14
As any fan of Los Angeles will admit, this team has had its struggles and its pitfalls this year. The health of the offensive line has been an issue, and, even when healthy, many of their starters have not played well. Their run defense has, at times, looked like one of the worst in the league. Justin Herbert has already thrown seven interceptions this season compared to the three he threw all of last year.
Yet, with both Joe Alt and Khalil Mack back, the Chargers looked dominant yet again against the Minnesota Vikings, and there is reason to believe that this next stretch could allow them to continue to build this momentum.
The Titans, who possess a 1-7 record, have arguably the worst offense in the league and should provide a premier opportunity for Los Angeles's pass rush to flex their muscles. They have allowed a league-leading 34 sacks this season and are tied for both the fewest passing and the fewest rushing touchdowns as a team.
While the Steelers have posted a 4-3 record and are leading the AFC North, they have lost their last two games, and a tough matchup against the Indianapolis Colts could leave them relatively broken down as they head to SoFi.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, have been one of the most confusing teams in the league this season. After beating the Kansas City Chiefs in a primetime game, their offense has been suffocated in losses to both the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams. If the Chargers can manage to come into this game with continued momentum on defense, we could be in for another rough week for Trevor Lawrence and company.
The struggles of the Raiders, and why Los Angeles should look forward to their matchup, require virtually no explanation. Geno Smith has looked wildly inconsistent this year, and the team is near the bottom in almost every stat that measures offensive success. Were the Chargers to win this game, they would round out this stretch with a 4-0 record in their division.
Therefore, if Los Angeles were able to come away with, say, a 3-1 record through these four games, they would be heading into their matchups with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles with an 8-4 record on the season: in prime position to make a competitive push for the division as the season comes to a close.
This next stretch, therefore, is the one that will more or less define their season, and they must find success against these beatable teams in order to prove themselves as the contender they hope to be this year.