Bolts' Remaining Schedule Looking Tougher

Five weeks ago, I was thinking how nice it was going to be for the San Diego Chargers after Week 11. Now that they are here, things are looking a little tougher. 

The once discounted Chiefs are now looking to tack on six more wins to their current two-game streak and snatch up the last wild-card spot for the playoffs.

Well, maybe not, but they are starting to put things together and are not the walkover that San Diego must have thought they'd be after trouncing them in their last meeting. 

Just ask the Steelers. It looks like they overlooked the Chiefs and their playoff hopes now bare the brunt of that mistake.

And what about Cleveland? Well, let's just hope the Chargers don't get too cocky. Let's stick to the tried and true, "any team can beat any team on any given Sunday" rule of thumb with them.

Dallas is a little bit more of an enigma. They play with a lack of poise that belies their 7-3 record. 

Even though Dallas is barely beating inferior opponents, they are intent on making the playoffs and the Chargers will play them in the new and improved Texas Stadium. Let's hope that the Bolts aren't too awestruck and that Kaeding and Scifres don't bounce anything off the big screen.

As for Cincinnati, could their recent loss at the hands of the lowly Raiders be a sign of things to come? Could this be the beginning of a spiral back to reality such as Denver is experiencing?

Let's not count on it. This is the team that swept four division matches from Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Both of which beat San Diego earlier this season.

Finally there's Tennessee and Washington. Both of these teams appeared to be walkovers several weeks ago, but both of them have picked up their games since then. 

Things are shaping up for San Diego to have a first round bye and home field advantage until at least the AFC Championship game. They can beat every team left on their schedule, but not if they get caught looking to the next game or looking to the playoffs. 

Right now, they are the masters of their own destiny.