San Diego Chargers In Good Company Within AFC West

Sometimes that vibe you get that your team will finally have that magical run to a title is more than just a feeling.

So the San Diego Chargers are obviously in a bit of  a pickle when it comes to having to pick between staying out in San Diego or come to the heart of Los Angeles, but the AFC West gives them something good to focus on.

And the best part is that no matter how the division race ends up playing out, the Chargers will benefit from it in some way.

Philip Rivers is locked in after signing a big extension with the team, so his leadership skills will be under the ultimate microscope heading into this season and beyond.

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But on the flip side, San Diego will be without Antonio Gates for the first four games of the season due to a suspension.

In the end it’s alright, though, they can still push through it.

Derek Carr will have plenty to prove with his new offensive assets and outlook up in the bay area, whereas the Chiefs and Broncos are more cemented as cornerstone franchises.

Alex Smith and Justin Houston are the clear front-runners in KC, while Peyton Manning looks to still be in control of the team from top to bottom as much as John Elway & Co. will allow him.

But what if those three teams all fall out?

A fall from grace with the rest of their competition isn’t exactly likely, so it’s a little more than far-fetched to say the Chargers are in a position to run away with the division, they could still learn a lot from what their future competition will look like.

They can absolutely learn that without any sort of medal or division crown — but obviously, that’s more like learning the hard way.

Carr looks like the real deal for the Raiders, so the next couple seasons it’ll be important for the Chargers to make serious notes and adjust accordingly if they expect to get the two divisional games they’ll always have against Oakland.

As for Alex Smith and Peyton Manning, it would seem as though they’ve both surpassed their best seasons — Manning especially — but they’ll still be gunning for the Chargers to spoil the party.

So the point with all of that is that the Chargers can’t afford to ever let their guard down.

They didn’t exactly live up to anyone’s expectations last season, cruising to a 9-7 record and placing a woeful third in the division.

With that in mind, moving forward will be the most important focus point for a team that hasn’t seen playoff football since 2013 and made the post-season five times in the last decade.

Bottom Line: San Diego is the perfect sleeper team.

The last time they played after the regular season ended in a 24-17 loss to the Broncos in a game where San Diego could’ve played ultimate spoiler to Peyton Manning & Co. who eventually got blown out by the Seattle Seahawks in the ensuing Super Bowl.

AFC West teams have escaped by uncomfortable margins against the Chargers the last couple of seasons, so taking full advantage of the talent they have could very well lead them close to the promised land.