NFL Playoff Scenarios: San Diego Chargers Have Inside Track to AFC West Title

Wouldn't you know it? It's December and the San Diego Chargers are back in the swing of things in the AFC West.

The Bolts, losers of six in a row from late October through November, have won each of their last three games rather decisively, with Sunday night's stomping of the Baltimore Ravens punctuating San Diego's triumphant return to the playoff picture.

Once a veritable turnover machine, Philip Rivers has since regained his form of old, with nary an interception to his name over the last four weeks compared to eight touchdowns over that very same span. The same goes for Ryan Mathews, who hasn't failed to crank out at least 100 yards from scrimmage in a month.

Meanwhile, the defense seems to have found its footing, having given up no more than 16 points in its last four outings—a figure that drops to 14 if you disallow Denver's three points in overtime on the last Sunday of November.

Realistically, though, San Diego's surge shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, especially those legions of frustrated Bolts fans in southern California. The Chargers a 21-2 in the month of December since Rivers took over under center for Drew Brees back in 2006.

Chances are, the Chargers will need to win out if their latest Cinderella story in the AFC West is to have a happy ending. The Denver Broncos, at 8-6, are sitting in pole position, even after suffering a 41-23 throttling at the hands of Tom Brady and the Patriots that not even Tim Tebow could prevent.

Hence, the Bolts aren't entirely in control of their own destiny.

That being said, the Broncos are anything but a lock to win out against the Bills and the Chiefs. As thrilling as Denver's six-game winning streak was, it's all too easy to forget that the team benefited handsomely from good fortune and equally perplexing plays by their opponents.

In theory, the Broncos shouldn't have too much trouble earning a "W" in Buffalo. After all, Denver, the most prolific running team in the NFL, will be up against a defense that just surrendered 254 yards on the ground to the Miami Dolphins.

Still, with these Broncos, you can never be too sure of anything either way.

A home game on New Year's Day against the Chiefs could prove to be a bigger challenge for the Broncos than previously expected, especially after the way Kansas City roughed up the previously undefeated Packers.

Think Kyle Orton and his neck beard won't be fired up for that one?

Another loss or two for the Broncos, then, is hardly out of the question.

San Diego would still have to take care of its own business to see its way into the postseason—no easy task, considering the Chargers will finish the season on the road in Detroit and Oakland.

But if recent history has anything to say, it's that San Diego rarely loses games this time of year.

And, as such, if I were a betting man, I wouldn't plunk down money against the Chargers...errr...charging their way back into the playoffs this time around.

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