So much for that . . .

San Diego is going to give Kansas City a run for their money in the AFC West. Tonight's 34-7 Chargers blowout victory over the 49ers (bringing their record against the NFC West to 2-2) was definitely not beneficial to the Chiefs at all. The Chargers win puts San Diego  just a half game back of Kansas City in the AFC West; this is the closest the Chargers have been all season.  All the pressure is now on the Chiefs. The Chiefs still control their own destiny at 8-5 and doesn't require San Diego, 8-6, to lose to make the playoffs; but it looks like winning out is going to have to be a necessity if the Chiefs want to make the post-season for the first time since 2006.

San Diego showed just how scary they are during this time of year. They are the only team in NFL history to win two straight division titles after trailing by 3 or more games (2008, 2009). Besides the much appreciated loss to the Raiders two weeks ago, San Diego hadn't lost in December since 2005, when they did it three times that month. Until a garbage-time touchdown by San Francisco, the Chargers hadn't allowed a score in 7 quarters. And, like I said in my earlier post, they have one of the easiest remaining schedules.

Since this was a very important game for Kansas City, many Chiefs players admitted after practice today that they were going home to watch. “Everyone wants to pay attention to what happens with the Chargers, but for us the most important thing to do is to take care of business on Sunday. . . That’s been our focus all week and it will be our focus until Sunday gets here" said Tyson Jackson. Well, Jackson, along with all the other players and coaching staff, couldn't have been all that pleased by tonight's game. 


This game, however, is not the nail in the Chiefs coffin. Remember, the Chiefs still lead the division and no matter how good the Chargers look in their games (Vincent Jackson . . . wow), all the Chiefs have to do is win theirs. Derrick Johnson put it best: "We know our situation regardless of what any other division opponent (does). If we win, we don’t have to worry about that. That’s why we can’t get up and down about wins and losses of other people. Right now we still control our own destiny.”