ESPN Talks AFCW: Chiefs & Raiders up, SD & Denver down

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Valiant

My point is you got that record against a very very crappy AFCW teams.. You were basically given 3-4 free wins each year because of how bad Den,Oak and KC have been.. Basically a free ride to the playoffs.. ( 5-1,5-1,5-1 and 5-1 in the division the past 4)

Then add the fact your defense is worse, you lost your main WR weapon.. Gambling on a rookie RB.. That and this will be the first time in a long while that the other division rivals have gotten a bit better... Well except Denver..


Basically your team had a good four year window where they should have received a free ride to the AFC championship game from the free wins alone from the division..

There is just no killer instinct in your team..

Again, 2008 was a bad year, but are you just going to ignore the 9-1, 6-4, and 8-2 record outside of the AFC West in all those other years? Are you saying we didn't deserve to make the playoffs in any of those 3 years?

The playoffs aren't a free ride, what you said sounds like a joke.

The Chargers have been Choke Artists, I will agree with, but that doesn't mean that can't all change this year.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Buck

The Chargers have been Choke Artists, I will agree with, but that doesn't mean that can't all change this year.

"Maybe next year"

[Ugly Duck]

Originally Posted by Buck

are you just going to ignore the 9-1, 6-4, and 8-2 record outside of the AFC West in all those other years? Are you saying we didn't deserve to make the playoffs in any of those 3 years?

Not me. Running the table in the 2nd half of last season was admirable... that was one bad ass run. You guyz deserved your playoffs. But, as you say, everyone expects a choke cuz its always been that way save '94 when you made the Bowl. You get there again & respect for your team quadruples.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

Not me. Running the table in the 2nd half of last season was admirable... that was one bad ass run. You guyz deserved your playoffs. But, as you say, everyone expects a choke cuz its always been that way save '94 when you made the Bowl. You get there again & respect for your team quadruples.

Yep. I agree that the Chargers deserve criticism for not going to the Super Bowl, but I still think they can. I'm not sure why some people think their window is closed.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Buck

Again, 2008 was a bad year, but are you just going to ignore the 9-1, 6-4, and 8-2 record outside of the AFC West in all those other years? Are you saying we didn't deserve to make the playoffs in any of those 3 years?

The playoffs aren't a free ride, what you said sounds like a joke.

The Chargers have been Choke Artists, I will agree with, but that doesn't mean that can't all change this year.

Not saying you would have not gone to the playoffs.. But if you had a competent division you probably would not have won the division two of those times if KC/Den/Oak played to par.. From other teams perspectives your team has NEVER been great like the other division powerhouses of that time..

Playoffs are not a free ride, but IF your teams were as great as you believe they would have at least won each of their first games.. Of course that might the difference, you are buying into the regular season hype.. I am viewing your teams as a better version of the 90's chiefs..

And I do not think the Chargers are choke artists in the playoffs.. You lose the games I expect.. If anything your main achievement is having Peyton's number..


Why exactly do you think your team is better this year??

Now I still expect you to win the division this year, but it will be much closer.. Something like

SD 9-7
Oak 8-8
KC 6-10
Den 5-11

Is Mathews going to save you? Do you expect any dropoff from losing Vincent or was he a prospect of Rivers?? Has McNeill signed?? Is Merriam ever going to come back to steroid form? Do you think your division rivals have gotten better??

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Valiant

Not saying you would have not gone to the playoffs.. But if you had a competent division you probably would not have won the division two of those times if KC/Den/Oak played to par.. From other teams perspectives your team has NEVER been great like the other division powerhouses of that time..

Playoffs are not a free ride, but IF your teams were as great as you believe they would have at least won each of their first games.. Of course that might the difference, you are buying into the regular season hype.. I am viewing your teams as a better version of the 90's chiefs..

And I do not think the Chargers are choke artists in the playoffs.. You lose the games I expect.. If anything your main achievement is having Peyton's number..


Why exactly do you think your team is better this year??

Now I still expect you to win the division this year, but it will be much closer.. Something like

SD 9-7
Oak 8-8
KC 6-10
Den 5-11

Is Mathews going to save you? Do you expect any dropoff from losing Vincent or was he a prospect of Rivers?? Has McNeill signed?? Is Merriam ever going to come back to steroid form? Do you think your division rivals have gotten better??

FWIW this is how I see it

SD 12-4
Oak 7-9
Den 5-11
KC 5-11

Mathews is about a 200% upgrade to our RB position. McNeil is a great pass blocker, but he sucks at run blocking, and his replacement has looked great going against guys like Julius Peppers, Demarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, and others in preseason (at pass blocking), and he is a great run blocker. If you look at our numbers, we couldn't really run to the left side last year. I don't think Merriman will ever reproduce his numbers from 05-06, but he is a decent player without the roids.