Oakland Raiders lead 4 big surprises in the AFC West
By Steve Rivera
4. Chargers finish best in the AFC West
Saying that the Los Angeles Chargers will finish on top of the AFC West isn’t going out on a limb. They were, in the estimation of many talking heads, a prime candidate to not just win a conference title, but the Super Bowl. If anything, the Chargers were the recipient of bad luck given their seeding and travel schedule in the playoffs.
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In 2019, expect Los Angeles to do it much better by taking care of their business and winning the division outright, being at home for the playoffs and not in the Eastern time zone.
The Chargers are keenly aware that their playoff window is closing as the years wear away at quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers, who has logged 15 solid seasons for the Bolts, needs to close the deal. Youth is a central theme these days in the NFL, especially at quarterback, and especially in his own division.
This year, the Chargers will take advantage of a Chiefs team who takes a noticeable step back in the West. That’s not to say 2018 was a mirage for Patrick Mahomes, but teams will defend him better this season. The one team best positioned to take advantage of that is Rivers and the Chargers, giving LA a leg up come playoff time.
Los Angeles Chargers Predicted Record: 11-5