Super Bowl Champion? Trends Point to one Team
Dec 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during player introductions prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The last four Super Bowl champions – the 2009 Saints, the 2010 Packers, the 2011 Giants, and the 2012 Ravens – all played Philadelphia in the Eagles’ home opener. Out of those, the latest three have lost to the Redskins at Washington – and two in overtime (the Packers and Ravens); the Giants in 2011 twice. In fact, the 2009 Saints beat the ‘Skins, in D.C. in overtime.
This year, one team has done all of that. They’ve met the trends. And the club barely snuck into the playoffs in an overtime Week 17 win. They played Philadelphia in its home opener and beat them (33-30), and they played Washington on the road – and lost in overtime (Week 9, 30-24).
That team is the San Diego Chargers. It’s absolutely insane how they’ve met every single trend of the last few Super Bowl champions.
San Diego plays Cincinnati on the road in the Wild Card round next weekend, which is going to be a tough game. If they win, they’ll go to the 1st seed – the Denver Broncos – which is who the Ravens beat in the Divisional Round last year. Keep in mind that San Diego beat Denver at Mile High Stadium earlier in the season.
I don’t think the Chargers are going to end up winning the Super Bowl – there are better AFC teams – but these crazy trends point to it. It’s just something to keep in mind entering the postseason.
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