
Only in the 2008 version of the AFC West could a team enter week 16 two games under .500, and still have a fighting chance to win the division. That's the position the San Diego Chargers find themselves in, as they bring their 6-8 record into Tampa Bay on Sunday, riding a two-game winning streak in an effort to salvage what has been a rather disappointing season.
A win for the Chargers would keep whatever playoff hopes they have alive, at least until they find out the results of the Buffalo-Denver game. A San Diego win, combined with a Denver loss, would set the stage for a week 17 game (in San Diego) to decide the AFC West champion. It could be quite a party, just so
Ed Hochuli isn't invited.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is coming in riding a two-game skid, both of which came against NFC South foes, leaving the Buccaneers in the middle of a free-for-all for the two NFC wild card spots. Still, the biggest problem for the Buccaneers seems to be the fact they're dealing with a rash of injuries, including quarterback
Jeff Garcia and linebacker
Derrick Brooks. Garcia sat out Sunday's overtime loss to Atlanta, and has been limited in practice most of the week.