Chargers can no longer be overlooked as Super Bowl contender

LOS ANGELES >> The Los Angeles Chargers can no longer be overlooked, whether it is on the list of Super Bowl contenders or as a headline attraction in their own town.

Thursday night’s 2928 come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Chiefs moved the 11-3 Chargers into a tie atop the AFC West with two games remaining and clinched them their first postseason berth since 2013. The Chiefs hold the tiebreaker due to a better division record, but the Chargers have a viable chance of not only winning the division for the first time since 2009, but also getting home field throughout the playoffs.

“This isn’t the same old Chargers,” safety Derwin James said after their third comeback win in the past four weeks. “We’re here to compete with anybody in this league and we showed it tonight.”

While the Rams and Chiefs have garnered most of the attention, the Chargers have been one of the hottest teams since last season. Their 20-6 mark since an 0-4 start last season is tied with New England and New Orleans for most wins going into Sunday’s games. The Saints and Patriots have a better winning percentage.

That also might start propelling the Chargers toward equal billing with the Rams, who are 19-6 in that same span going into Sunday’s game against Philadelphia. With most of the focus in recent months on the Dodgers making the World Series, LeBron James’ debut season with the Lakers and the Rams, the Chargers have been lost in the shuff le.

“We’ll fly underneath the radar. We just go out there and play the best that we can,” center Mike Pouncey said, “It is nice to get the recognition but at the end of the day we are looking to put ourselves in position.”

Philip Rivers is putting together one of the finest seasons of his 15-year career, and Los Angeles went into the week as one of two teams that are ranked in the top 10 in offense and defense. Pittsburgh is the other.

The offense showed that it has plenty of depth against the Chiefs. Rookies Justin Jackson and Detrez Newsome averaged 4.2 yards per carry with Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler inactive due to injuries. Mike Williams, who was a first-round pick last year, stepped up after Kennan Allen’s injury in the first half with three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) and the game-winning, two-point conversion.