NFL San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers Face Daunting Schedule To Make Playoffs

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Mike McCoy

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Starting this Sunday, the San Diego Chargers schedule for the rest of the year gets extremely tough. There does not appear to be any games where they can look past their opponent for the week. To use one of the most over quoted words in the NFL, there are no “gimmie” games on the horizon.

That includes this weekend, where they face a team in the St. Louis Rams that are playing much better than their 4-6 record indicates. The problem is that with the Chargers already having four losses at this point in the season, a loss to the Rams would seriously hinder any hopes of a return trip to the playoffs. The big reason? The rest of their schedule is a combined 35-17.

After the Rams the Chargers will play six teams that all currently all in the playoff race. It is gauntlet of a schedule that includes the Baltimore Ravens (6-4), New England Patriots (8-2), Denver Broncos (7-3), San Francisco 49ers (6-4) and finally the Kansas City Chiefs (7-4). Unlike 2013, where towards the end of the season the Chargers could beat up on a hapless New York Giants team and a Chiefs group that started all of their backups in a “meaningless” game for them, this most likely won’t be a silky smooth road to the postseason.

Eric Weddle, when interviewed this week by San Diego U.T. sports writer Kevin Acee, admitted as much when he said “now it’s a six-game blood bath.”

If the Chargers want to be taken seriously as a true Super Bowl contender, this is the type of murderer’s row schedule that could help forge the toughness they would need for such a run. A sort of trial by fire that past Super Bowl participants similarly experienced and used to build confidence and momentum. As recent history has shown, it is usually the hottest team at the end of the season, regardless of seeding, that makes those types of magical runs. If the Chargers can navigate through the last six games and come out with a playoff berth, they might be in a position to do just that.

Antonio Gates agrees. He was quoted by Acee as well: “Gotta go get it this year. Not to take anything away from those teams, but it’s going to be well-deserved this year if we get to the postseason.”

Jonathan George is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonageorge. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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