Chargers vs Chiefs: It’s imperative for LA to win now to make the playoffs

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hunter Henry
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Hunter Henry /
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Saturday’s Chargers vs Chiefs match up will likely decide the division.

So the Los Angeles Charges have a come a long way from their 0-4 start to the season and the jokes that social media had waiting for them when their departure from San Diego was originally announced.

Well, now they have a chance to show the Kansas City Chiefs what a real collapse looks like, as they can jump ahead of their division rival for the lead in the AFC West with a win. It’ll improve the Chargers to 8-6 on the year and guarantee that they, at the very least, won’t have a losing season.

From there, it’s all up to them to control their own destiny.

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After Saturday’s game, the two contests left remaining on the Chargers schedule are against the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders. Both teams are out of the playoff hunt, it would seem, but they can absolutely play spoiler if LA isn’t careful.

As for the Chiefs, a win at home tonight leaves them with a home game versus Miami before ending the season in Denver against the Broncos. They have a similar scenario to the Chargers, with a divisional game and out of division game left with both not in the playoff picture at the moment but both loving nothing more than a chance to play spoiler.

For the Chargers to take it to the Chiefs tonight, they’ll have to be okay with winning a close game. Sure, the Chiefs went off to a 5-0 start and have lost six of their last eight games — but that doesn’t matter if they win in their second head-to-head opportunity against the Chargers.

With the loss to Dallas the lone exception, all of the games that Kansas City has lost this year have been one score differentials. Their margins of defeat, in descending order and outside of the Cowboys game, have been seven, six (twice), three (in OT), and one.

Los Angeles has gotten in it’s own way as well though early in the season, losing games they definitely should’ve come out the victor in. That being said, it all boils down to the Chargers having the burden of proof on them to show us their legitimate and that the Chiefs are a fraud.

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But they’ll have to do it with things remaining close, if history gives us any precedent.