Playoff Picture: Who Should Chargers Fans Root For?

First the good news: If they playoffs started today, the Chargers would make the six-team field in the AFC. Because of a series of tie-breakers, their 7-4 mark is better than three other teams with an identical record.

The problem is that the season doesn’t end for another month – another brutal month on the schedule that sees the Bolts playing five playoff contenders with nary a cupcake to be found.

“We feel like we’re in playoff mode right now, because every team we’re playing the rest of the season, feels like they can’t lose a game to keep their playoff hopes alive,” said safety Brandon Flowers. “I guess it’s good in a sense. We don’t have any so-called trap games. We gotta give everybody our best shot and we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.”

He’s not kidding.

It seems the later we go in the season, the closer the standings get. In fact, the conference No. 2 and No. 9 are separated by just one game. That includes both of the Chargers’ AFC West rivals – Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Needless to say, there’s no margin for error from here on out.

1. Patriots – 9-2 (East leader)
2. Broncos – 8-3 (West leader)
3. Bengals – 7-3-1 (North leader)
4. Colts – 7-4 (South leader)
5. Chiefs – 7-4
6. Chargers – 7-4
7. Ravens – 7-4
8. Steelers – 7-4
9. Browns – 7-4
10. Dolphins – 6-5
11. Bills – 6-5

So, who are Chargers fans rooting for? Well, as the Bolts head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on Sunday at 10 a.m., you can see how big a win would be. Any time you can separate from any of the teams above, it will be huge come playoff time.

But we already knew we’re rooting for the Bolts. Let’s take a look at the rest of the schedule as it pertains to the Chargers.

In the marquee division game, the Chiefs host the Broncos in the Sunday Night Football game on NBC. It would be in the Chargers’ best interest for Kansas City to win. If they do and the Bolts get a victory, we would have a three-way tie atop the West.

The Chargers play both these teams coming up. Needless to say, this thing would be a long way from over.

Even if the Broncos win, it’s not the worst thing. That would put the Bolts a notch ahead of the Chiefs in the wild card race.

Either way, it should be an entertaining game.

Two major anomalies in the league stick out. First, every team in the AFC North has at least seven wins – the only time at this point in the season that’s happened. Also, no team in the NFC South has a better record than 4-7 – also a first.

This becomes important because two big games involve these teams. The New Orleans Saints head to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. If one or both of these underachieving NFC teams could pull an upset, that would be huge. Don’t hold your breath.

In other games, Cleveland heads to Buffalo in a game we’d love to see the Bills win and the Jets look to upset Miami in the Monday Night game.

In what should be the best game of the week, Green Bay hosts New England in a battle of the league's two best teams -- and also a possible Super Bowl preview. It probably won't matter much, but Chargers fans would like to see a Packers win just to keep the Pats within striking distance of the rest of the conference.

Strangely enough, no AFC teams play in any of the three Thanksgiving Day games. That means Chargers fans can relax, enjoy some football, family, food … and get ready for a battle on Sunday.

So, to sum up, Chargers fans should root for:

Bills over Browns (10 a.m.)
Redskins over Colts (10 a.m.)
Saints over Steelers (10 a.m.)
Bucs over Bengals (10 a.m.)
Packers over Patriots (1:25 p.m.)
Chiefs over Broncos (5:30 p.m.)
Jets over Dolphins (5:30 p.m. Monday)

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