Article on The Ringer: Chargers are Best Worst Team

[richpjr]

Well, let's not start punching each other's nuts quite yet...

No kidding. If we lose to the Broncos, the simultaneous cracking sound of all of those ankles breaking as people jump off the bandwagon will be deafening!

[MakoShark]

No kidding. If we lose to the Broncos, the simultaneous cracking sound of all of those ankles breaking as people jump off the bandwagon will be deafening!

I don't think so Rich. Even with a lose to the Donkeys we can still get to 500 at the 'bye'. I think that Miami game looms big, but at least we have them at home. The stretch run includes 6 very winnable games with our toughest opponents having to come to our house. If we can get to the 'bye' with no more significant injuries, heal/rest up for the stretch and maybe get a player back from IR (did we designate a player to return?) I like our chances.

Of course the usual suspects will have there doubts, but that's just who they are. #hatersgonnahate

[6025]

I agree with the notion that a split with Denver is not earth shattering. It would be nice if they won and I think they can, but the season is shaping up for a turnaround.

[BlazingBolt]

This game with Denver is our last shot at having a winning division record. Division record is the most important tie breaker after head to head.

[FiftyFive]

According to the stat geeks, this week's game is much more important to our playoff chances than most seem to think:

[MakoShark]

Hmmm, a win gets us back to 500, but doesn't even get us to 50% chance to make the playoffs? Not sure I agree. We beat the Donkeys and we damn near put our destiny in our own hands. We will own a huge tie breaker against a team that will probably be there at the end.

[Steve]

It's not worth getting too worried about yet. I think of the situation as being a little like the year we were 4-8 under Norv and won the division. Just go out, and take care of your business and the rest will take care of itself.

Looking at the rest of the AFC, NE is the only other team that is impressive at all. Pitt, Buff, Houston, and Tenn all have 4 wins (Tenn is 4-4), and Pitt and Hou are their division leaders. It is possible for us to make the playoffs as the 3rd wild card. And if we can win out (or only lose 1) we might be able to win the division outright. We have a weak non-divisional schedule from here on out.

The Chargers just need to figure out how to win the close games from here on out. The tough part is that with the rest of the division playing well too, there is no margin for error.

[richpjr]

The AFC West still has a lot of in division games left. The Broncos have 2 games each left against the Raiders and Chiefs. The Chiefs still play the Broncos twice, host the Raiders and play here. And the Raiders still have to play here, in KC and the Broncos twice. Win this game and we are in good shape to control our own destiny. Lose and it will obviously be much harder, but we'll still have a chance.