After three wins in four games to start the 2012 NFL campaign, the San Diego Chargers appeared to be on the right track to getting back to form as a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC.
Along with reclaiming the form as one of the better teams in the conference, Philip Rivers and company were already atop the AFC West division standings with wins over the Oakland Raiders (22-14) and Kansas City Chiefs (37-20). Unfortunately, the distinction as the AFC West’s best didn’t last long after Peyton Manning pulled off an incredible come-from-behind victory in Week 6 leading the Denver Broncos over the Chargers, 35-24.
The loss to the division rival Broncos may have been a sign of things to come with San Diego finding it impossible to get the endzone against the lowly Cleveland Browns two weeks later. After the loss to the Browns (7-6), Norv Turner’s squad seemed to be back to their old ways of doing things in terms of failing to live up to expectations despite a very talented team on both sides of the football.
In Week 9, the Chargers will have an opportunity to bounce back in a second meeting with the Chiefs. Unlike the first meeting in Week 4, this game will be played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego giving the clear advantage to the Chargers.
Apparently, this AFC West showdown in Week 9 has potentially dire consequences if San Diego loses a fourth straight game. If the Chargers fail to get the best of the Chiefs on Thursday night in San Diego, Norv Turner may have coached his last game for the Chargers according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com:
“A loss would give them the ugliest four-game losing streak possible: blowing a big lead to a winless team (New Orleans Saints), blowing a 24-point lead and suffering two losses to a one-win team.
“If Norv Turner was ever going to get fired midseason, it would be after a loss like this.”
Even Turner doesn’t dispute the fact that his coaching days in San Diego may be over in the near future via Michael Gehlken of UTSanDiego.com:
“I’m coaching on a week-to-week basis, (and) I’m coaching to do the best job I can do to get our team ready to play Kansas City,” Turner said Monday.
Needless to say, Turner’s stint in San Diego may very well be coming to an end with a loss to the Chiefs this week or in the weeks to follow with potentially disappointing outcomes. Only a drastic turnaround for the Chargers may change the fate of Turner from here on out.
