Week 11 AFC West Roundup
By Justin Smith
San Diego Chargers
4th Place in AFC West
Record: 3-7
Last Game: Bye
Next Game: at Houston Texans (6-4)
There’s not much to say about the Chargers this week. They had a bye last week. They don’t play an AFC West rival this week. Rivers still threw two picks.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about them right now is where they may end up playing next year, and that Houston is clinging to a slim lead in their own division and needs this win badly.
You can only write “team screws themselves” so many times, so many ways. You would think the English language would allow for more descriptors — but the Chargers have been that self-destructive.
A few things they can take away from this season: Hunter Henry, Jatavis Brown, and Tyrell Williams are ballers. Joey Bosa is already becoming a game-wrecker. There are some really nice pieces here.
Melvin Gordon is as advertised and runs hard and tough, and scores lots of touchdowns.
Philip Rivers will lose you as many games as he will win you at this point, because he’s trying to do it all himself. Is it time to package Rivers to a QB-needy team for some picks while/if they can still get something for him?
The Chargers may rightly feel Rivers didn’t have a fair shake with so many injuries to key players. One more season to see what a fully healthy roster can do may be in the cards.
It’s fairly remarkable how well they’ve played considering the pieces they’ve lost, and it’s worth exploring this roster one more time before blowing it up.
Either way this game will be entertaining for people who like uninspiring quarterback play on one side against over-the-top competitiveness on the other. Who will throw more picks? Who will win the game? Will Osweiler’s traveling laser show be there?
The Chargers are flying across the country for a 1 pm start. They’re playing a desperate team who needs a win to stave off surging division rivals. The Texans just lost a tough one on some rough calls in Mexico.
Good luck, San Diego. Stay classy.