ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — Not too many people on this island care one way or another what happens to the Chargers this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Nobody’s concerned about the possible blackout, nor whether or not the Bolts will overlook their 3-7 division rivals.
Rivers Will Keep The Chargers Pointed In The Right Direction
What’s the point spread? Who’s injured? Where’s the game? Is there a sports bar somewhere that will illegally carry the telecast? Never mind any of it. Just find yourself some air conditioning so you can deal with the 80-degree temperatures and the opressive humidity.
Meanwhile, the heat is on the Chargers, who need a win Sunday to maintain their lead in the AFC West over the Denver Broncos, who awoke from the dead to crush the New York Giants, 26-6, on Thanksgiving night. While the Bolts were no doubt enjoying turkey dinners with their families, Denver improved to 7-4.
If the Chargers turn in a turkey of a performance against the Chiefs, they’ll be 7-4 as well. But the concern level is far higher than it needs to be.
Sure Kansas City was won two straight, including a 27-24 overtime victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers last Sunday. And the Chiefs all of a sudden look like a formidable foe, the direction of their season changing the moment they rid themselves of troublesome running back Larry Johnson.
But the Chargers’ path to the playoffs has dramatically changed course for the past six weeks now. Leaving a 2-3 start far behind in the rear-view mirror, San Diego has rolled to five-straight wins, including during the run 30-point blowout victories at both Kansas City and Denver.
Though it would be understandable to worry about a letdown, it’s not necessarily realistic. If the Chargers have learned anything this season, it’s that they must show up every single Sunday. Disappointing home losses to Baltimore and Denver, along with two near-losses to the hapless Oakland Raiders have driven that point home.
The Kansas City win over Pittsburgh, along with the Denver victory on Thursday night, should guarantee that the Bolts have no Thanksgiving hangover. That 11 of the Bolts spent part of Friday night in the Gaslamp, being honored for their inclusion among the 50 Greatest Chargers of all-time should have no bearing, either.
The fact of the matter is that the Chargers do have (at least) 11 great players who will take the field Sunday (whether you can watch them on TV or not). Guys like Rivers, Tomlinson, Diehlman, Hardwick (if ready), Gates, Merriman, Jammer, Osgood and Scifres should be enough to beat the Chiefs, even if the team isn’t at its best.
Follow this up with a win next weekend against the league’s worst team, Cleveland, and San Diego will bring a 9-3 record into the season’s final four weeks. From there, if the Chargers blow a playoff spot, well…then they’ll be considered turkeys.
– Ello –
