You're just going to have to bear with me for the next few weeks. Now that the Chargers have won the division, and seeing as how I have pretty much free reign in this space, it's going to be all Chargers, all the time. But isn't this supposed to be a subjective column? Why yes, it is. And the rankings themselves will reflect that, as I'm not giving any credit to the Bolts where it isn't due. But you have to understand, it's been nine years since the last playoff berth. It's been ten years since the last division title.

When you are 25 years old and your most recent memory of your playoff team is of Captain Comeback and the unheralded youngster Zack Crockett picking your team apart? Well, that's not a good thing. When your favorite team last made the playoffs when you were a sophomore in high school and you've now been out of college for nearly two years? Again, bad. When you think back to the glory days of your team and come up with Natrone Means, Alfred Pupunu, and Mark Seay (one of my favorites strictly because he played with a bullet lodged in his torso), then you haven't got much of a "glory days". Hey, did you know this little bit of trivia? Mark Seay is the first player to ever record a two-point conversion in the Super Bowl. Use that one to impress your friends on the day of the big game this year. See, these are the kinds of things we have to hold onto because the recent history itself doesn't feature many highs. Hey, I'm not sitting here lamenting my poor fate as a Chargers fan. After all, it was my own decision to root for this franchise. When I was young, I rooted for the Giants just because everyone else did. Living approximately 9 minutes from Giants Stadium, it also made sense to do so. But as I got a little bit older, I wanted a team to call my own that I rooted for, and not just because everyone else did. Why the Chargers? Junior Seau, of course. Those who've been fans long enough will not soon forget how he absolutely willed the team to the Super Bowl back in '94, playing with pretty much one arm against an extremely talented Pittsburgh Steelers squad.

Looking back, the memories are easy to recall. Perhaps it's because that team had so much heart and so much character, and continued to come back when no one else gave them any shot. Perhaps it's because the season seemed just about to end on many an occasion in the playoffs, only to be saved by a Pete Stoyanovich missed field goal (which caused me to run around my house screaming 'Ray Finkle' at the top of my lungs - truth) or a pass in the end zone batted down by Dennis Gibson. Or perhaps the memories are so easily recalled because there haven't been any since then. Charger fans have recently been given this run of memories: No better than an 8-8 record since 1995, people ripping the '94 team for being the worst Super Bowl team ever (true or not, NOBODY was beating that 49ers machine), having Sean Salisbury on the roster, having Craig Whelihan on the roster, the not-so-triumphant return of Natrone Means, the drafting of Ryan Leaf, the double-whammy exit of both Seau and Rodney Harrison in one off-season, and the seemingly limitless potential of LaDainian Tomlinson who appeared destined to become the next Barry Sanders in more ways than one.

But all of that is past. This is different. This season has changed things, if for no other reason than when people ask who you're a fan of, you can just say, "Chargers", without having to add the obligatory, "…yeah I know, they suck". And in today's wide-open NFL playoffs, who can deny that this team has a very real shot? Can anyone point to a team that is just so head-and-shoulders above the rest that this team cannot win? That the Eagles will still be strong enough coming out of the NFC, now that they've lost their playmaker? That the Patriots will just become possessed come playoff time, after proving their mortality in losing to Miami? That the Steelers will trounce them if they ever met in January? Sure, I heard that one before too. Or that the Colts will roll all over them and never let up? Perhaps, we'll find out how that one might go this weekend.

Regardless of the end results, this has been fun. It's the first Charger team that started off well that you DIDN'T expect to roll over in a very long time. Back in '95, when the team was 4-7, I noted that all they had to do was beat some inferior opponents over the last five weeks and they'd likely get in. The only tough game I saw on the slate was a contest against the Raiders, which they took. Another game that could have potentially been a rough one was here in the Meadowlands against the Giants, in the snow. You all remember that one, right? And yes, I was there. (And yes, I wore plenty of Chargers gear, including an inflatable helmet that protected me countless times from ice balls. I probably owe my life to the manufacturer of that helmet.) See, that's the difference this year. We EXPECT this team to do well. I admit, I didn't have much hope in the early going but after just a couple of weeks you could really see it come together.

We in fantasy football land tend to get more caught up in our fantasy teams than in our real favorite teams at times, which is perfectly fine and perfectly understandable. But in this season, when I'm still very much alive for fantasy winnings in several leagues, my entire focus has shifted to the "real" stuff. I didn't start playing fantasy football until 1996, so I've never had to worry about caring more about my fantasy team or my "real" team - there was never a decision to make. But now that there is, it's easy for me. I can tell you without any hesitation that a Chargers Super Bowl win is at the top of my Christmas wish list this year. I've won fantasy championships before. I've never seen the Chargers win. I'd like to see them win. For me. For other Chargers fans. For Tomlinson. For Stan Humphries. For Seau. For Pupunu and Seay and Shawn Jefferson and John Carney. It's not quite on the level of winning one for the Gipper because really, who cares about these "old-time" Chargers from the mid-90's? Well, I do. Just because a team has been a laughingstock doesn't make its fan base any less passionate. I want them to win for all those who love to make fun of Charger fans, even including Charger fans who love to make fun of Charger fans.

It blows my mind that in a few short weeks, I'll be watching a San Diego Chargers playoff game. See, some Broncos and Patriots and Cowboys fans have become spoiled to success, much like what has happened to Yankee fans. I know that because I am a Yankee fan, and have seen championships and playoffs every year for the past ten. But I never lose sight of reality, nor do I come to expect anything, because of my rooting for the Chargers. I know the feeling of a ten-year playoff drought. I've heard some Chargers fans saying stuff like, "Well whatever happens now is gravy," or "I didn't even expect 8-8, so just making the playoffs is fine with me." I'm here to tell you, don't think that way. After a ten-year playoff drought, I can assure you that no one ever knows when you will make the playoffs again. Root for this team. Root for them like they'll never make the playoffs again, because you just don't know. Since they haven't tasted any sort of playoff success in ten years, it's imperative to not take this playoff run for granted and just assume there will be more, merely because they have a young nucleus of talent and some cap room. Anything can happen, and I want to see them win now. Am I being greedy? I don't think so. Ten years is plenty long enough to wait for respectability. And yeah, I know the Eagles, Falcons, Indianapolis Colts haven't won. And it's been awhile for the Steelers and Jets. But no matter. My team is close. They are good enough to win it. I want them to win now.

I want to be able to say, "I'm a Chargers fan," and not have to add anything else.

Mailbag

Just one piece of mail, somewhat related to the story above. From a reader named Kevin: If the Broncos were 8-5 would you rank them higher? Oh wait, they ARE 8-5! I'm sure it was just a typo, but you have them at 7-6. Just thought I'd point that out before Jake Plummer sees it and starts pointing fingers your way! Thanks, Kevin.

Wow Kevin, thanks. Not really sure what happened there. Only thing I can think of is that I wanted to see the Chargers take the division crown SO BADLY that I arbitrarily gave them the extra game at random. And good call on the Plummer thing. I know he says it was one guy in particular, and he's apologized for it, but I remember when former Yankee pitcher Jack McDowell flipped off the entire crowd back in a start in 1995. The fans, and media subsequently, didn't take too kindly to the gesture. You don't expect that sort of thing from someone on such a big stage. You'd think they would think first. But what else would you expect from a Bronco? (stop me, I'm on a roll!)

Rank…Team……...W/L…(Last week)

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 13-1 (1)
   After the Pats' loss and the Owens injury, they are firmly entrenched at #1.



2. Philadelphia Eagles 13-1 (3)
   Tough to move them up because this week they got A LOT worse, but 13-1 is 13-1.



3. New England Patriots 12-2 (2)
   Well. That run at two didn't last long.



4. Indianapolis Colts 11-3 (4)
   I'm a Manning backer, but it didn't take 'class' to kneel it out - it's what you're supposed to do.



5. San Diego Chargers 11-3 (5)
   I have to admit, I fully expected eleven wins - the next two years COMBINED!



6. New York Jets 10-4 (6)
   Don't know about elsewhere, but in NY/NJ, the Pennington rant is BIG. Let's see if it affects him.



7. Atlanta Falcons 11-3 (7)
   You know whose chances of getting to the Super Bowl just got a whole lot better?



8. Baltimore Ravens 8-6 (8)
   I'm beginning to get this sneaky suspicion that this defense is a LITTLE on the overhyped side.



9. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-6 (9)
   They just showed how a playoff bubble team is supposed to respond in a late-season game.



10. Buffalo Bills 8-6 (10)
    Scary to think that this team could easily be 11-3 or BETTER, giving the AFC another power.



11. Denver Broncos 8-6 (11)
    …(n): To roll over and die. Syn: See also Denver Broncos, Week 15



12. Green Bay Packers 8-6 (12)
    Gamblers across the nation would like to thank the Pack for 100% proving AFC superiority.



13. Minnesota Vikings 8-6 (14)
    At least their win guaranteed we won't have TWO 8-8 division winners.



14. Carolina Panthers 6-8 (13)
    A tough loss last week puts the playoff talk on hold for now. But they're still very much alive.



15. Cincinnati Bengals 6-8 (15)
    Everyone's going to want to secure their spot early for the Bengals 2005 Super Bowl run.



16. Dallas Cowboys 5-9 (16)
    TESTAVERDE TO START IN 05?. "Mr. Testaverde, your deal with Satan has been extended."



17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-9 (17)
    Hey - I got one, I got one. Does Jon Gruden remind anyone else of Chucky? Ya know, the doll?!?



18. Houston Texans 6-8 (19)
    It's getting pretty repetitive, but I'll say it again. This will be a team to be reckoned with in '05.



19. Kansas City Chiefs 6-8 (21)
    Larry Johnson didn't just take the diaper off - he stuffed it in a ceiling panel in the men's room.



20. Washington Redskins 5-9 (23)
    That defense, without Arrington til now, plus an improving Ramsey, Portis, Jansen's return. '05?



21. Saint Louis Rams 6-8 (18)
    The Rams have gone from elite to mediocre faster than Heidi Klum.



22. Seattle Seahawks 7-7 (20)
    They SHOULD win these last 2, but then again they SHOULD have about 9 or 10 wins already.



23. New Orleans Saints 6-8 (24)
    Dick Enberg said it best when he called them the NFL's "most schizophrenic team".



24. Oakland Raiders 5-9 (29)
    Kerry Collins has 14 TDs the last 5 weeks. And the Raiders play near BALCO…



25. Tennessee Titans 4-10 (22)
    Chris Brown is out for the year, 1 week after hitting 1,000 yards. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.



26. Detroit Lions 5-9 (25)
    Is it a coincidence that both the Lions and Saints have lost games on XPs the past two seasons?



27. Chicago Bears 5-9 (26)
    Too bad, because 6-8 would have put them in position for a prime playoff run. (Sarcasm)



28. Arizona Cardinals 5-9 (30)
    In a sign of how bad the NFC is, the NFL's 28th-ranked team is playing a big game this weekend.



29. Miami Dolphins 3-11 (31)
    And THAT, my friends, is why late-season games against teams 'out of it' are so dangerous.



30. New York Giants 5-9 (27)
    Up and down = part of being a young QB. It IS NY, but let's not live and die with each Eli pass.



31. Cleveland Browns 3-11 (28)
    It's unfair, because if they were in the NFC North, they'd probably be running away with it.



32. San Francisco 49ers 2-12 (32)
    I don't want to pile on. Let's just leave it at them being the league's worst team.