The old San Diego “Super” Chargers have not made the playoffs since 2013, and with this team playing some of its best football since their last playoff appearance, it is time for the now Los Angeles Chargers to become super.
A 45-10 victory over the Cardinals was a response we all wanted following the week 11 slip-up against Denver. AFC Offensive Player of the Week Philip Rivers was nearly unstoppable, and in the process set a record or two. Rivers is the only quarterback to have multiple touchdown passes in every game. Losing Melvin Gordon will hurt the offense, but not too much as Austin Ekeler has done a great job this season.
Joey Bosa is a full go, no restraints, and the defense is climbing into the top 10 in the league right now. The defense is now 4th in points per game allowed at 19.9 points. They are also top 10 in yards allowed. Offensively they are sixth in yards and tied with New England for seventh in PPG. The Chargers are the only team to be ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive yards per game and points per game.
All of these stats look great, but there is one glaring concern. They still have to play Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Denver. The Chargers have by far their toughest leg of the schedule remaining in December, but Rivers often plays his best in the final month of the season. I have heard fans say all the Chargers need is to go 2-3 over the final month and they are in. That is not necessarily true with teams like Denver and Indianapolis heating up with much easier schedules remaining.
The Chargers need to pull a winning record over the final month in order to sit in a good spot for their playoff chances. It all starts in Pittsburgh on Sunday Night, and whether Rivers can top Big Ben Roethlisberger, a player he will forever be connected to due to being in the same draft class. Rivers might be playing his best football of his career right now, meanwhile we are seeing Roethlisberger and Eli Manning deteriorate. If Rivers can get a ring he might start receiving the credit he has deserved for such a long time.
The Chargers can be super again, all they need is wins in December, something Rivers has done throughout his career, but he has never had this kind of supporting cast around him. This is the best Chargers team I have seen in my 10 years of following the NFL and the Chargers. They are the best team since 2006, if not since the Super Bowl team in 1994.
Featured Image:
