NUTS!

Well, we're in a bit of a pickle here. And I hate pickles.

Last time I checked, this is still the NFL, so the whole "You are what your record says you are" caveat is still in full force.

3-5. That's our record. Ergo, that's what we are.

We have an offense like a high maintenance sports car: when it works, it kicks ass. Too often, however, it sputters when we need it to purr.

We commit way too many penalties, with this last effort being particularly atrocious. Granted, a few were bogus, but it never should come down to the yellow hankies.

I would say we have a bad defense, but we don't. We have no defense. No pressure. No turnovers. No Sacks. No nothing. Its goddamn frustrating, because (almost) all the pieces are there from last year, but its like

3-5. Things are fucking grim.

HOWEVER....

All is not lost.

There are 8 games left, 5 of which are at home. The road games are no picnic, but the reality is that we have to be good enough to go to KC and win if we want to go to the playoffs.

The Broncos are 4-3 currently, with 5 remaining road games and some real tests coming up. They lead the Bolts by 1 and 1/2 games, which after this Sunday will either be 1 or 2 games.

The good news is that all the Chargers have to do is get to the season finale, a December 30th game at home against Denver, within 1 game of the Broncos in the standings. If the Bolts can get that close and then beat Denver in their last game, the division is theirs. The first tie-breaker is head to head, which would be tied 1-1. The second tie breaker is division record. Assuming the Bolts can those 3 games against the Raiders and Chiefs (and really, they will have to in order for this scenario to play out), the Bolts will hold the second tie-breaker by virtue of Denver's previous loss at Kansas City.

This sounds desperate, I know, and it kinda is. But the light at the end of the tunnel isn't faded yet, only dimmed.

First order of business is to light a fire under the Defense during the bye week, then unleash them on the Chiefs two weeks from now. A big win in that game is the start of a streak here.

Get healthy. Get ready to play some goddamn defense. Protect the House. Beat the Chiefs.