NFL standings: Chargers gain ground on Chiefs in AFC West

The L.A. Chargers picked up some important ground in the AFC West as every other team in the division lost on Sunday.

Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers picked a good week to pull off a win. Everyone else in the AFC West took a tumble in the standings in Week 8.

So far in 2019, the Chargers have been a miserable franchise, perhaps the most disappointing team in the NFL when comparing preseason expectations to actual results. However, they’re actually in decent position given the number of tough losses and frustrating injuries they’ve endured.

After beating the Chicago Bears on the road in the Windy City, the Chargers now sit only 2 games back of the Kansas City Chiefs, who lead the division at 5-3. The Chargers also know they have both divisional contests against the Chiefs still to come on the schedule, which means technically that the Bolts still control much of their own destiny. There’s no denying the Chargers are on the ropes, but any ray of light will be appreciated for a team that’s started so poorly.

As for the rest of the division, Week 8 was a frustrating one given the tough nature of each loss. The Denver Broncos looked like they were going to pull off the unexpected with a win over the Indianapolis Colts but a 51-yard field goal with only 22 seconds left by Adam Vinatieri put Indy over the top and pulled the rug out completely on Denver’s season.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders had a chance to pull within a half game of the division-leading Chiefs with a statement win over the Houston Texans. Yet even after losing star pass rusher J.J. Watt, the Texans rallied back behind the magic of Deshaun Watson and put the Raiders away late in the fourth quarter. Another close loss and that left the top half of the division with the same gap as before.

Here’s a closer look at the standings after the results of Week 8.