Los Angeles Chargers: Three things that make LA the AFC favorites

3. The Los Angeles Chargers have a great defense to go with elite offense

Most NFL fans are in love with offensive showcases that have grown exponentially with the new rule set in the NFL. Because of that, offensive juggernauts such as the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams became the favorites early on and seemed unbeatable.

Heck, the Chiefs and Rams record-setting Monday Night Football game was called one of the greatest regular season games of all time. I cannot lie, as a site that covers both LA teams, it definitely was an entertaining game.

More from LA Sports Hub

• Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
• LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
• LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
• Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
• LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month

However, if the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens have shown us anything, it is that a great defense can neutralize these offenses, especially as the weather gets colder.

The Bears embarrassed the Rams last week and the Ravens should’ve beaten the Chiefs if it was not for an insane superhuman effort from Patrick Mahomes on fourth and long late in the game. Defense still matters.

And when it comes to the AFC side of things, the Chargers are the only team that has a great defense to go with a great offense.

The Ravens and Texans are the only other teams that can hold up to the Chargers’ defense and both are respectable in their own right. However, the Chargers have so many playmakers on the defensive side of the ball that it is going to be extremely hard to score when it matters in the playoffs against them.

Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Derwin James, Casey Hayward, Desmond King and Trevor Williams can all make plays and could shift an entire game with one big defensive stop.

The Patriots, Chiefs and Steelers do not have that. The Texans and Ravens have something similar that is simply not on the same level as the Chargers.