How the Los Angeles Chargers can win the AFC West in 2020
3. At the very least, break even vs. AFC West rivals in 2020.
In 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers finished 12-4 – tied for the best record in the AFC. But it was only good enough for the team to earn the fifth seed in the conference playoffs due to the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs won the AFC West on the basis of a better divisional record (5-1) than Anthony Lynn’s club (4-2).
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That year, the club’s four losses in the regular season came to the Chiefs, Rams, Broncos and Ravens. Three of those clubs were in the playoffs and the Rams reached the Super Bowl. And the Bolts would avenge that loss to Baltimore by beating John Harbaugh’s club on the road in the wild card round.
This past year, it all came apart for the Chargers as they not only finished with seven fewer wins, but none of their five victories were over divisional rivals. The club has had its recent issues with the Chiefs and is now a dismal 1-11 vs. Andy Reid’s team dating back to 2014.
But both the Raiders and Broncos finished with losing records this past season. Denver swept the Bolts for the first time since 2015. And Lynn’s club was a perfect 4-0 vs. the Silver and Black under his command before losing a pair of Jon Gruden’s squad this past season.
Ouch. Time to do better if the club is going to make a dramatic turnaround.