Chargers are the AFC team no one wants to play in January

This is what you need to know about the AFC in 2017: A team that started 0-4 is probably the most feared team in the conference by the two favorites.

While the NFC is a mess fueled by talented teams, the AFC is equally messy for different reasons. There aren’t that many good teams in the conference. It appears that the conference is dominated by the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers — who meet in a colossal matchup on Sunday — and everyone else.

But keep an eye on Los Angeles. The Chargers are scary. Under first-year head coach Anthony Lynn (who was potentially looking at going one-and-done), the Chargers are one of the hottest teams in football. They have won seven of nine games and they are right in the mix in the AFC playoff picture. Los Angeles plays at Kansas City on Saturday night for control of the AFC West. Both teams are 7-6.

If Los Angeles can complete its comeback from going winless in the first quarter of the season, there will be a lot of nervous teams in the AFC.

Prior to the season, many around the NFL thought the Chargers could be a serious threat even though they went 5-11 last season, which cost coach Mike McCoy his job. The Chargers, who haven’t won the AFC West title since 2009, has finished last in the division the past two seasons.

The Chargers have been building a strong roster. However, their biggest issue has been being able to finish games The Chargers are famous for Chargering. Their unique, maddening penchant for blowing games in unheard of fashion has dated back to the Marty Schottenhemier days. Norv Turner took it to a next level and then McCoy held his own in their twisted, miserable tradition of blowing games late.

It carried over to the early days of the Lynn era. In Week 1, the Chargers celebrated by losing on a blocked field goal. In Week 2, the Chargers lost at home to Miami by two points. Two weeks later, the Chargers again lost by two points at home, this time to the Philadelphia Eagles.

They Chargered their way to an 0-4 record.

However, there have been just two more losses this season for the Chargers. They lost at New England and at Jacksonville in the first two weeks of November. The loss to the Jaguars was rough, a three-pointer that could have easily gone Los Angeles’s way. However, the Chargers have rebounded and have won four straight games. While the Chargers lose close games, they win in blowouts. They have won by an average of 19 points during their four-game win streak.

This is why teams like the Patriots and Steelers should be nervous about the Chargers. They always compete. They often take over games.

Now the Chargers have figured out they can win. That’s the easy part. This team is loaded.

Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers, who turned 36 last week, is playing like an MVP candidate. He has thrown 23 touchdowns and has been intercepted just seven times. Running back Melvin Gordon is eighth in the NFL with 853 rushing yards. Receiver Keenan Allen, who is finally healthy, has 83 catches for 1,143 yards. The Chargers’ offensive line has allowed an NFL-low 15 sacks.

Defensively, the Chargers boast the pass-rush tandem of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The Chargers have 37 sacks, which is fifth in the NFL. The Chargers have the No. 10 overall defense in the league and they are third against the pass.

This team is clicking in all facets. It’s December and they are dangerous. Now, that the Chargers have learned to how to win, no one will want to face them in January.