5 AFC West storylines to watch in the 2018 season

By Cody Rivera | Aug 27, 2018

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 10, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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CARSON, CA – AUGUST 18: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up before a presseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at StubHub Center on August 18, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. More disappointment for Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers, formerly the San Diego Chargers, have been doing this dance with Philip Rivers since 2004. Since he came into the league, a handful of other great quarterbacks have gone on to win their first Super Bowl ring; Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning (drafted one pick before Rivers), Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco etc.

Fourteen years have gone by, and that championship ring still eludes Rivers. That’s the one thing that has kept him from being considered one of the great quarterbacks in the league. Now he’s 36 years old and is about to enter his 15th season as the quarterback for the Chargers. With Rivers, they’ve reached the AFC Championship Game one time. They’ve missed the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons.

Rivers has been a productive quarterback over the years. He’s done wonders for fantasy teams. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler, a former passing yards leader, a former passing touchdowns leader, among other accolades. But every year, the season always ends in disappointment for the Chargers. Rivers has been very good in regular seasons, but he’s never been able to make that jump from good quarterback to great playoff quarterback.

At 36, he’s long past his prime, and now fans are wondering just how many chances he has left to finally win a ring. Los Angeles finished 9-7 last season, which wasn’t a good enough mark to make the playoffs. They should be good enough to remain respectable in 2018. Their defense possesses a solid pass rush. Their offense has a couple of big weapons in running back Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Keenan Allen.

But it’s highly unlikely that will be good enough to win a Super Bowl, unless Rivers finally becomes a quarterback who can come through in big games. Odds are there will be more disappointment in December or January, and another year of Rivers’ career will be gone.