Comments on: Lack of AFC West powerhouse gives Chargers hope

By: CapsLockKey

CapsLockKey — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:14:03 +0000

Chiefs are in the drivers seat. They already have a win over SD and just got past the two hardest games they’ll play all year, Indy and Houston on the road (and should have won). KC now has a 2 game home stand against the spirally downward Jags and the worst team in the league Bills. Follow that up with a road game in Oakland, it’s almost a month before KC sees a legitimate team again.
Meanwhile, a game and a half behind (not including the tiebreaking loss to the Chiefs) all SD has to do is play the gauntlet of the Patriots, Titans, Texans, Broncos and Colts. Good luck with that Chargers. Dropping 2 out of 3 to NFC West teams all but killed any chance of winning the division. They better hope the Chiefs completely fall on their face, and after seeing what they did the last two weeks even in losing efforts, I don’t see that happening.

By: edgy1957

edgy1957 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:48:03 +0000

The AFC might be deep but let’s not forget that these guys have put up LONG winning streaks to close out the seasons several times and that may be enough to get them either the division or a wild card spot. This isn’t the strongest division in football and 3 of their last 4 division games are at home and I can see them winning 6 of their last 7 games after the bye.

By: Electrogasm

Electrogasm — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:29:01 +0000

The reason that the Chargers have gained a lot of yards is because they HAVE TO since they’re playing from way behind every week.
The reason they give up so few yards is because the other teams are scoring on Special Teams and Turnovers on a short field.
Statistics matter only when it’s about Ws and Ls.

By: OntBoltFan

OntBoltFan — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:19:00 +0000

I am not too worried. 3 of the losses have been uncharacterisitic. Special teams errors. I could see the losses to SEA and KC. SEA can beat anyone at home. KC couldn’t do anything on O but had 14 st points. KC is about = to SD talent wise.
OAK had 12 pts from blocked punts.
STL is = talent wise as well so no mystery they win at home. Also didn’t have Gates and #2 WR. Haven’t had #1 WR all year. Also missed starting OT and OG in most of the losses.
Merriman may return to being an avg player but he isn’t a force anymore. The guy has like 5 tackles this year as he is always hurt so someone else can pick up his $3+M contract.

By: FireJerryJones

FireJerryJones — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:01:40 +0000

No Jackson, No Gates… No Kaeding… No Problem.
How do you lose to the teams these guys have played? You can’t look at the yards gained seriously.
KC, Seattle, Rams, Oakland? Of course you gain a lot of yards here.

By: sportsdrenched

sportsdrenched — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:24:19 +0000

Another example of the problem that exists with the current playoff system.
XXXXXXXXXXX
That problem isn’t unique to the NFL. In fact any league anywhere where they have play-off has this problem.

By: BrianMD

BrianMD — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:16:36 +0000

gyldenlove says:
Considering the Broncos have 2-4 and has not played any team that is below .500 right now, while the Chargers have had a much easier schedule to get to the same level and the Chiefs have found life, the Chargers will be lucky to just get 2nd place in the division this year.
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That’s a little naive. Anything can happen. That’s what’s so great about football.
For example, Denver was 8-4 and San Diego was 4-8 with 4 games left 2 years ago and how did that turn out.
Quit predicting the season before it’s half over.

By: BrianMD

BrianMD — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:14:02 +0000

thevirgin says:
Another example of the problem that exists with the current playoff system. One of these AFC West teams will make it to the playoffs because they won a ridiculously poor division, and some very deserving quality football team will just miss making the wildcard because there are only 2 spots available for it. I bet that the worst wild card will have 2 wins more than the winner of the AFC West. Terrible.
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And in five-ten years some other division will be weak.
Every sport has a weak division. That’s just the way it is. What are you gonna do? Change the play-off rules?
Never gonna happen. Accept it.

By: Murphspeak

Murphspeak — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:13:22 +0000

AJ is building a perfect replica of the Marino – era Dolphins, save the Super Bowl appearance. The Dolphins behind Marino could demolish statistics and dominate in yards gained and comebacks and had all the stats on their side, without the wins and most importantly, without The Win.
Look for Philip Rivers to become a Dan Marino doppelganger, a fierce and accomplished competitor, shattering records, red faced and frustrated at the inability of his organization to correctly assemble and then execute important wins with the necessary pieces when it really matters.

By: Levito

Levito — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:09:01 +0000

# carp killah says: October 19, 2010 12:22 PM
So let’s cut our best defensive player and not sign or trade our holdout receiver.

By: Yamchargers

Yamchargers — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:08:46 +0000

hey gyldenlove
I would take that bet. You think that the Bolts will finish 3rd or 4th?

By: joetoronto

joetoronto — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:59:08 +0000

jbwbubba:
Injuries happen to all teams, not just the Chargers.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:57:56 +0000

The Broncos are in pretty good shape here, too…the hard part of thier schedule is pretty much done, 6 division games to go, they played the $hit out of the Jets on Sunday (and probably should have won)…beat the Titans…I like their chances in a very weak division.

By: JustDieBaby

JustDieBaby — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:54:24 +0000

No AFC west powerhouse??? Guess you forgot about the 80 Raiders/Plunkett version 2.0.
Just proves once again the “greatness” of Al Davis. What other team could get rid of Elway version 2.0/JaMarcus the “great playa” only to replace him with another Plunkett.
Plunkett, Moss(DHB) Tatum(Mike Mitchell). Just wait until Al drafts the next Art Shell and Howie Long next year (ever without a no 1 pick). The Raiders are a powerhouse “Get ovah it”.
Please someone just shoot me. Or better yet shoot Al.

By: RFM

RFM — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:53:58 +0000

The AFC West is so bad, all four teams have hope. The chiefs are a game and a half in front of the others and with no assurances of being able to hold on to it. Hell, 7-9 could win the division.

By: Skummyone

Skummyone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:51:15 +0000

You know the Cowboys are 3 games back in their division, right?

By: boltschick

boltschick — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:48:25 +0000

I heard that the Rams knew exactly when the ball would be snapped.
That’s why Rivers was sacked 7 times, most he’s ever been sacked. Rams were in the backfield instantly. Team needs to disguise snaps a little better.

By: gyldenlove

gyldenlove — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:41:59 +0000

Considering the Broncos have 2-4 and has not played any team that is below .500 right now, while the Chargers have had a much easier schedule to get to the same level and the Chiefs have found life, the Chargers will be lucky to just get 2nd place in the division this year.

By: jbwbubba

jbwbubba — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:39:12 +0000

To be fair in that game, the chargers also lost Gates early who is their all everything. Also lost Malcolm Floyd the number one WR on the team early and the other starting WR was already out for the game. So they weren’t exactly at full strength for most of the game.

By: Common Sense

Common Sense — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:32:59 +0000

It’s time for the melting candle to be fired.

By: thevirgin

thevirgin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:31:50 +0000

Another example of the problem that exists with the current playoff system. One of these AFC West teams will make it to the playoffs because they won a ridiculously poor division, and some very deserving quality football team will just miss making the wildcard because there are only 2 spots available for it. I bet that the worst wild card will have 2 wins more than the winner of the AFC West. Terrible.

By: MercyMe

MercyMe — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:30:23 +0000

The Chargers are in trouble….they just are not able to see it thanks to years of getting away with slow starts. The Chiefs are 3-2 with the two losses coming in close games against the Colts and the Texans (bad call at the end of the game). They already beat the Chargers once this year. They have the easiest schedule in the NFL from here on out. The Chiefs look to be rolling while the Chargers are still trying to get on track.

By: Just Win Maybe

Just Win Maybe — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:27:36 +0000

And lack of coaching should give the Chargers concern….How can a perennial underachiever like Norv stay employed?
The AFC West is in a sad state when everyone is is banking on the others suking worse than they are.
Good thing my Silver and Black has the new “next Plunkett” waiting in the wings this weekend.
The only team that’s represented each week is KC and they’re still a little ways out but you have to give them their dues.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:22:40 +0000

Saying Dallas is even close to the same is ridiculous. SD plays in a much weaker division and two teams in the East already have 4 wins….

By: carp killah

carp killah — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:22:20 +0000

So let’s cut our best defensive player and not sign or trade our holdout receiver.