Chargers: Quest For Playoffs Begins Monday

It is becoming all to familiar for the San Diego Chargers and their fans...since Norv Turner became head coach of the Chargers, the Chargers have started their past three seasons in lackluster form only to rally late in the season to not only make the playoffs but win the AFC West in doing so...in the case two years ago, the Chargers had to win the AFC West to make the playoffs.  So as the season began and the Chargers began to lose games to teams that they should have beaten not many people panicked...just the same old Chargers...and what has benefited the Chargers to some degree, in the past, is that the other teams in the AFC weren't very good and even "spotting" the Chiefs, Raiders and Broncos a 2, 3 or 4 game lead in the division, the Chargers would end up on top.  Will the 2010 campaign for the Chargers end with a similar result?

The Chiefs, after starting out strong, lost to Denver last week and now alt the teams in the AFC West are separated by just 2 games, the Chargers being 1 game back.  The Chargers have to play the Broncos twice and the Raiders and Chiefs each yet this season so the Chargers certainly can "help their cause" by winning against their division rivals...if for anything for tie-breaker purposes, which right now the Chargers are 0-2 in the division, which will not help in any tiebreaker decision.

The Charger schedule has shaped up so that the Chargers could make a charge into the playoffs...besides their division opponents they play @Indy, @Cincy and San Fran.  Obviously Indianapolis will not be any cake-walk and if San Fran can get their poop in a group, they should be in contention for the NFC West title and will be playing for keeps.

The Chargers have Malcom Floyd and Legedu Nannee returning to practice, but my biggest concern, in terms of receivers, would be the status of Antonio Gates.  As of now he is a game time decision and after not playing against Houston has had almost 3 weeks to recover but his status is still up in the air.

The Chargers are playing Monday night against the Broncos...the Broncos beat the Chiefs very handedly this past week, but I think that game exposed as to how weak Kansas City is and not so much as to how much better the Broncos are becoming.

Of course the wild card in the Charger-Bronco game will be special teams.  The Chargers have difficulty going an entire game without at least one special teams gaffe, if not multiple.  Punt blocking has been exposed and I would expect the Broncos will try to exploit that aspect as most other teams have this season against the Chargers.  Field goal unit, Kaeding has been rehabbing and I do believe will be returning to the Chargers soon...but if he continues to miss field goals it won't matter.  Most long time Charger fans have little faith in Kaeding and I am in that camp.  Kaeding will make any field goal that isn't important but miss any and every field goal in a playoff game.

The Chargers haven't helped their season much at all this year but a win on Monday night will brighten their playoff chances... a loss doesn't extinguish their hopes but makes the climb that much harder...and sometimes I think that is the end goal for the Chargers...never make it easy on themselves (or their fans!).