Bill Williamson

Who's the best 3-4 team in the NFL?

No, we’re not talking Buffalo here.

Really, the San Diego Chargers could be the best 3-4 team in the history the the league.

This is a quality team. A team no one ever wants to play. A team that if you could pencil right now for the AFC championship game, its opponents would be worried all week. This is a team that potentially could end the season with a ticker-tape parade.

However, The Chargers, who play the first of many must-win games Sunday against visiting Kansas City, are all but done.

It's Remarkable, really.

But that what’s happens when you lose grasp of games in the final moments, especially in the AFC. In the AFC, the only way the Chargers could make it to the playoffs is if they finish 8-1 or maybe 7-2, but 6-3 won’t cut it.

Can the Chargers lose just once the rest of the way? Sure, they’re that talented. Remember, this is a team that was the talk of the NFL last year when it went 12-4 a year after earning the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

If the Chargers want to get back in the race, they must find a way to erase their fourth-quarter disasters. All four of San Diego’s losses have come in the fourth quarter.

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San Diego opened the season by losing a home game against Dallas in the final moments; then blew a 14-3 halftime lead at Denver the next week; then saw Pittsburgh connect on a game-winning field goal in the final ticks during a home Monday night game. And, of course, Sunday's debacle against Philadelphia in which the Eagles blocked a fourth-quarter field goal and ran it back for a touchdown, leading the Chargers to an eventual loss.

The Chargers could easily be 7-0, but that won’t get them anything. Especially a playoff berth.

Broncos too?
Not again? The Broncos now have to deal with what San Diego had to last week: a huge game against Philadelphia.

Denver suffered one of the most difficult losses of the NFL season last week by giving up two touchdowns to the New York Giants in the fourth quarter, turning a game they dominated into a 24-23 road loss. The defeat snapped a five-game Denver winning streak.

It also revived ghosts of the recent past.

For the third straight year, Denver has started at 5-1. However, in 2002 and 2003, the Broncos finished the final 10 games of the season at 5-5, ending the season at 10-6 without a home playoff game. Sunday’s devastating loss put Denver at 5-2 for the third straight season, keeping the dreaded game-seven blues alive.

All week leading up to the defeat in New York, the Broncos talked about how they believe this season wouldn't be as difficult because they are more mature, more secure on defense, have a better pass rush on defense and have better overall depth.

However, heading into the Eagles game, Denver needs to show they are not a repeat offender of the 5-5 finishes. Of course, it won’t be easy.

Still, a win and a 6-2 record would cure many fears for the Broncos heading into the team's bye week.  However, a 5-3 mark after beginning the season at 5-1 would cause some serious concern.