Chargers on the Rise: A New Era of Dominance in the AFC West

Former Los Angeles Chargers star Shawne Merriman is boldly declaring his former team as legitimate contenders after their impressive 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. With the team now sitting at 2-0, Merriman isn’t mincing words about their potential. “If anybody didn’t believe they were going to be contenders, not only in the AFC West, but in the AFC in general, you haven’t been paying attention,” he told Fox News Digital. His confidence stems from multiple factors, most notably the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has built a winning reputation at every stop in his coaching career. But perhaps equally important is the stability now surrounding quarterback Justin Herbert, who finally has continuity in coaching staff after years of constant change. This marks a significant shift for a player who has been forced to learn new systems nearly every season since joining the league.

The transformation of the Chargers extends well beyond just coaching stability. Merriman emphasized how the team has evolved from being entirely dependent on Herbert’s heroics to win games. “Now, you have a team that’s not relying on Justin Herbert to win anymore,” Merriman explained. “If he plays well, great. If he doesn’t, they can still win.” This balance represents a fundamental shift in the team’s identity and approach. Despite Herbert’s impressive performance against the Raiders (242 passing yards and two touchdowns), what stands out is the complete team effort surrounding him. The Chargers have built a roster that embodies physical toughness on both sides of the ball, creating what Merriman describes as their new DNA – a “big, strong, physical team.” Having a quarterback with “the biggest arm in the National Football League” now feels like a bonus rather than a necessity for victory.

This Chargers renaissance comes at a particularly interesting moment in the AFC West landscape. The Kansas City Chiefs, who have dominated the division for nine consecutive years, find themselves in unfamiliar territory with an 0-2 start to the season. Merriman’s analysis of the Chiefs’ struggles points to a team that has become overly reliant on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to overcome roster deficiencies. “This is not a knock on the Chiefs at all, but you can only rely on Patrick Mahomes for so long,” Merriman observed. He drew a parallel to Aaron Rodgers’ situation in Green Bay, where exceptional quarterback play masked roster shortcomings for years but eventually reached its limits. The comparison suggests that even transcendent quarterback talent cannot indefinitely compensate for team-wide weaknesses.

The Chiefs’ challenges extend beyond just an overreliance on Mahomes. Merriman highlighted how aging stars like Travis Kelce, while still exceptional, can no longer produce at the same level they once did. “Travis Kelce may go down as the greatest or top three greatest tight end of all time, but he’s just like the rest of us. He’s getting older. He can’t do what he used to do five years ago,” Merriman noted. This natural decline has been compounded by injury issues, with deep threat Xavier Worthy dealing with a shoulder problem, leaving the Chiefs without a consistent vertical passing option. Add in struggles with the running game, and suddenly Kansas City appears vulnerable in ways they haven’t in nearly a decade. Still, Merriman acknowledges the Chiefs remain “a good team” – just one that may have been surpassed by a Chargers squad that has addressed its weaknesses more effectively.

The quarterback situation for the Chargers deserves special attention, as Herbert’s development represents one of the most promising aspects of their resurgence. After years of instability, Herbert now has the chance to work with the same offensive coordinator in consecutive seasons, something that’s been rare during his tenure with the team. While he did have Joe Lombardi as his coordinator in both 2021 and 2022 under former head coach Brandon Staley, the arrival of Harbaugh brings a completely different coaching philosophy and system. Importantly, Harbaugh has maintained Greg Roman as offensive coordinator, creating valuable continuity for Herbert. This stability allows the talented quarterback to refine his skills within a consistent system rather than constantly learning new playbooks and terminology, potentially unlocking even more of his considerable potential.

As the Chargers prepare for their home opener against the Denver Broncos, there’s a palpable sense that the balance of power in the AFC West may be shifting. The combination of Harbaugh’s proven leadership, Herbert’s development within a stable system, and a newly balanced team approach has positioned Los Angeles as a formidable force in the conference. While it’s still early in the season, the emphatic win over the Raiders sends a clear message about the team’s capabilities. The Chiefs’ early struggles only amplify the opportunity for the Chargers to establish themselves at the top of a division long dominated by Kansas City. As Merriman succinctly put it, summarizing the changing dynamics: “The Chiefs are still a good team. The Chargers are just better, and that happens in the division when people get better around you and you don’t.” For Chargers fans who have endured years of unfulfilled potential, this could finally be the season where everything comes together.