Why the 2014 San Diego Chargers Are Contenders for the AFC Title

Just five short weeks ago, many experts were skeptical about the San Diego Chargers. People had doubts about the team's offensive line, its front seven and its secondary, yet the San Diego Chargers stand not only on top of the AFC, but at the top of the NFL with an outstanding 4-1 record. The Chargers have shown almost no weaknesses; they are the best team in football right now and could easily contend for the AFC title or even the Super Bowl.

How have the Chargers, who just a year ago lost to three of the league's four worst teams, been able to become the AFC's best team through the first five weeks of the 2014 season?

The answer has to start with Philip Rivers.

As shown above, Rivers is leading the NFL with a total QBR of 84.8 with 12 touchdowns and an outstanding completion percentage of 70.3 percent. Per NFL.com, Rivers leads the league in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating (min. three starts), while throwing only two interceptions in his first five games.

Rivers has played like the league's most valuable player through San Diego's first five games, and his statistics show it. Per Chargers.com, Rivers has distributed the ball to 10 different Chargers receivers, completing at least five passes to eight of those receivers.

Rivers isn't just playing well; he's playing historically well. As the Chargers travel to Oakland, Rivers will have the opportunity to become the first player to post a passer rating of at least 120.0 in five straight games.

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Philip Rivers on Raiders game: "It's a division game. You throw records out the window... You can't think winning is easy."

— San Diego Chargers (@Chargers) October 8, 2014"

However, with all of the hype surrounding Rivers' 2014 season, the quarterback understands that winning is more important than record books. Rivers will continue to do what he can to win games, and if he doesn't rewrite record books, Rivers certainly won't complain about it.

Rivers has had a tremendous impact on the Chargers' hot start in 2014 and looks like the league's best player as of late, but he is not the only Charger making an impact. In fact, the Chargers have been dominant in all three phases of the game.

On offense, receivers Eddie Royal, Malcolm Floyd and Keenan Allen all have proven to be reliable receivers; tight ends Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green both have made big contributions thus far, highlighted by Gates' three-touchdown effort against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.

Even the running game has proven to be effective; although the team's running backs struggled to gain yards, they have proven productive in being able to help the Chargers dominate time of possession in every game.

Although the Chargers are down to their fourth string running back, rookie Branden Oliver looks like a breakout candidate for a huge season after the Chargers' running back corps was depleted over Weeks 2-5. Oliver racked up 182 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in San Diego's Week 5 win over the New York Jets.

The Chargers defense has played outstanding football to start the 2014 season, allowing under 200 yards passing per game and under 100 rushing yards per game. San Diego also leads the NFL in fewest points allowed per game, surrendering only 12.6 points per game, per ESPN.com.

Many experts were rightfully skeptical about San Diego's secondary prior to the 2014 season, so the Chargers added rookie Jason Verrett in the first round of the 2014 draft and signed former Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers. These acquisitions have certainly paid off: Flowers, who leads the Chargers with two interceptions and five passes defensed, highlights a Chargers secondary that has broken up 18 passes and has intercepted three passes.

The Chargers have been surprisingly dominant up front and boast perhaps the best linebacking depth in the NFL. Hard-hitting free-agent pickup Kavell Conner has recorded two of the team's eight forced fumbles, Dwight Freeney has recorded two of the team's 12 total sacks and the Chargers front seven has tallied 11 total tackles for loss in addition to the aforementioned sacks. The Chargers' linebacker corps is so good that highly touted rookie linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu has tallied only 29 total defensive snaps, per FootballOutsiders.com.

The Chargers have also been solid on special teams. Attaochu blocked a punt in Week 1, Mike Scifres has pinned opponents inside the 20 on 12 of his 23 punts and Nick Novak has converted a perfect 11 of 11 field goals. Most importantly, the Chargers have not given up any special teams touchdowns, a problem that has plagued the team in the past.

The Chargers have been dominant in all phases of the game this year, and they are playing and looking like the best team in the AFC, if not the NFL. Philip Rivers has carried the offense, looking like the NFL's best player in the process; players all over the defense have stepped up to make the Chargers the league's stingiest defense and the special teamers have played consistently well through five games.

San Diego's most intriguing matchup could come in Week 8 when the Chargers will travel to Mile High Stadium to play division rival the Denver Broncos. A win could be the Chargers' first step towards a playoff berth, division title, maybe a first-round bye or even home-field advantage.