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AFC West Roundup: Week 13

By Justin Smith

Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) stands in the team huddle against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) stands in the team huddle against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs the football past San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) for a touchdown during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) runs the football past San Diego Chargers cornerback Adrian Phillips (31) for a touchdown during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego Chargers

4th Place – AFC West

Record: 5-7
Last Game: lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) 28-21 at home
Next Game: at Carolina Panthers (4-8) Sun, Dec 11, 1 pm EST

The Chargers last, desperate playoff hopes died a slow death on Sunday. The Bucs, winners of three straight now and tied with Atlanta for first in the NFC South, squeezed the life out of them with time of possession play and timely throws from Jameis Winston.

Rivers proclamation of making the playoffs is officially done. No 9-7 teams this year. Mediocrity in the AFC is not rewarded – unless the AFC South cannibalizes each other.

San Diego now gets to travel to Carolina to play the crazily dysfunctional Panthers. Cam Newton is far more likeable when he’s winning. Sure he’s arrogant and sometimes childish. But fun.

Now? This mopey, poor me childishness isn’t so fun. The tie thing is ridiculous. You can’t buy a shirt? Or send someone to buy you one? You donate millions to charity, which is awesome. So you have the money to buy a shirt. Or hire a seamstress to knit you one on the spot — made of silk, or cashmere.

It was just childish and not funny at all. It reminded me of when Oakland was terrible and things other than football became stories. Things that aren’t stories. Hey guess what? Carolina is terrible this year. They thought they’d be good. Cam has shown he doesn’t take losing well.

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So he’s being a bit immature. Ron Rivera is publicly shaming him for it. Ron Rivera is also being immature. Cam is rightfully annoyed by the public shaming and not hiding it well. It’s all drama that’s very high school.

Which means the Chargers will probably win on Sunday. Carolina is a hot mess on and off the field. They make a big play or two every game, sandwiched between 59 minutes of offensive ineptitude and defensive confusion.

Poor Thomas Davis. Poor Luke Keuchly. These warriors deserve better. Let’s hope Keuchly can come back healthy and awesome again.

San Diego deserved better too. Better than shooting themselves in the foot with late-game craziness early in the season. They deserved better than multiple receivers and important players on IR.

Probably better than me riffing on Cam Newton-Ron Rivera for the majority of their time in this piece.

But they didn’t get it. Or a vote to build a stadium in San Diego. Now they’re likely off to LA. With games left against the Chiefs and Raiders, they still have a chance to affect the AFC West race.

Just not their own place in it.

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