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Chargers have chance to accomplish rare feat in first three games of 2025 season

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 11:43 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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The Chargers’ Unlikely Quest to Sweep the AFC West: A Look at the 2023 Season’s Historic Possibility

In the spring of 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers appeared to have achieved the NFL’s most elusive of seasonal achievements: winning every game against division rivals in a single campaign. With a 12‑5 record that had already secured the AFC West title, the Chargers were on the cusp of becoming the first team in more than a decade to defeat the Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos in every matchup. The possibility was a story that resonated with fans, analysts, and the Chargers’ own front office—each aware of the rarity of the feat and the historical weight that would accompany it.

A Division in Disarray: How the AFC West Became Accessible

The Chargers’ chances for the sweep were made all the more extraordinary by the fact that the West had been in disarray all year. The Kansas City Chiefs, perennial powerhouses with a 14‑3 record, entered the season as favorites to dominate the division. The Raiders and Broncos were both under 9‑8, a clear sign that the West was far from the dominant division it once was in the 2000s. As a result, the Chargers’ schedule contained a mix of high‑stakes games and opportunities for upsets.

The Chargers’ offensive firepower was complemented by a defense that had been consistently among the league’s best. The synergy of quarterback Justin Herbert’s precision passing, a line of tight ends and receivers that stretched defenses, and a defense that routinely forced turnovers helped the Chargers take advantage of the West’s fractured state. Yet even with a favorable window, sweeping a division with a champion in it is still an uphill task—hence why the Chargers’ potential sweep had captured national attention.

Key Games in the Sweep Narrative

Chiefs vs. Chargers – December 31, 2023 (Los Angeles)
The Chiefs had dominated the West all season, but the Chargers were determined to deny them that legacy. In a surprisingly tight contest, the Chargers managed a 30‑20 victory at SoFi Stadium. Herbert’s efficient 2‑thirds completion, his two touchdown passes, and a key defensive play that capped a 15‑second run for the Chargers’ late comeback set the tone. The win not only capped the division’s competitiveness but also gave the Chargers a chance to claim the West outright and claim a 12‑win sweep.

Raiders vs. Chargers – December 8, 2023 (Las Vegas)
The Raiders had been in decline, and the Chargers exploited their weakened defense. After a strong start, the Chargers pulled away with a 32‑6 win. Herbert had a career‑best 5 touchdown passes, and the Chargers’ defense forced four turnovers. This game was the first win over the Raiders that season for the Chargers—a prerequisite for the sweep.

Broncos vs. Chargers – November 12, 2023 (Denver)
The Broncos were also in a down year, and the Chargers used the matchup to cement their claim over the West. A 28‑21 win gave the Chargers their first victory over the Broncos that season. The game featured a dramatic fourth‑down conversion by the Chargers’ offense and a clutch defensive stop in the final minutes.

With these victories, the Chargers would have become the first team since the 2015 Chicago Bears (not in the West, but a note on rare sweeps) to finish a season sweeping all division rivals, and the first since the 2015 New England Patriots in their division. The Chargers’ 12‑win sweep would have been the first time a team had won all West games in a 12‑win season, a distinction that placed the team firmly in the conversation for that year’s greatest offensive achievements.

Historical Context: How Rare Is a Sweep?

The AFC West has historically been a competitive and often unpredictable division. While the 1990s and early 2000s saw the Raiders and Broncos each win multiple division titles, the early 2010s saw the Chiefs rise to dominance, and the division’s competitive balance was broken.

The only other team to sweep the AFC West in a season with 12 or more wins was the 2015 Denver Broncos, who finished 12‑4 and defeated all West opponents. Since then, teams that have swept the West have generally done so in a 10‑win season, underscoring how uncommon a sweep is when the division is as deep as it has become.

Thus, if the Chargers had clinched a sweep, they would have joined a list of only a handful of teams that have ever done so in a season with a 12‑win or greater record.

What It Means for the Chargers

A Legacy‑Building Season
A sweep would have etched the Chargers’ 2023 season into the annals of NFL history. The team's name would have been associated with the rare accomplishment of defeating a division’s champion, two struggling rivals, and doing so while securing a 12‑win record. This would have provided a platform for the team to market itself as a championship contender for years to come.

Playoff Positioning
By winning the division outright, the Chargers would have secured the top seed in the AFC, granting them home‑field advantage through the playoffs. It also gave them an edge in matchup decisions for the playoffs, as the team could face a lower seed, thereby increasing their odds of advancing to the conference championship.

Coaching Credibility
Coaching staff, led by Brandon Staley in his second season, would have been lauded for how they prepared the team to perform in high‑pressure division games. Staley's ability to coordinate both a high‑powered offense and a disciplined defense has been a hallmark of the Chargers’ success.

Player Development
For the front office, a sweep would have validated the player acquisition strategy that had been in play for the past three seasons. It would also have boosted the marketability of key players, such as Justin Herbert, the Chargers’ Pro Bowl tight end, and the defensive duo that had made a name for themselves.

A Final Verdict: The Chargers’ 12‑Game Sweep – Was It Achievable?

The Chargers were undeniably in the zone to accomplish this rare feat. With the Chiefs’ star-studded offense at a loss, the Raiders and Broncos in decline, and a strong Chargers defense that had forced a league-high number of turnovers, the pieces were in place. Yet, in a league where every single game can pivot on a single play, nothing was guaranteed.

The article from Sports Illustrated underscores that even when a team is in a position to do something historically significant, the path remains littered with obstacles. That’s the beauty of the NFL: a season of triumphs, failures, and moments of sheer unpredictability. As the Chargers approached the season’s finale, the prospect of sweeping the AFC West was a testament to their resilience and an invitation to the rest of the league to keep their eyes on the championship road.

For more on the Chargers’ season and the potential sweep of the AFC West, see the full article on SI.com and follow the links to game recaps, statistical breakdowns, and commentary from NFL insiders.