Does it? They dropped a game to Denver each of the last two years. Two years ago they list to Denver AND Oakland and they still won the SB.
We'll see if the Chargers are for real. I have a ton of respect for Harbaugh and wouldn't be surprised for them to go on a nice run, but their roster has so many holes. They could win the division, but I don't see them as a threat int he playoffs.
The playoffs are the floor of expectations. When you're a top 3 team int he conference, playoffs really should be a given unless something really went off the rails. We could have multiple season ending injuries to key players, and assuming Allen was healthy, iw ould absolutely EXPECT playoffs at a minimum and wouldn't take excuses if they didn't get there.
Winning 10/17 games shouldn't be seen as a hard thing to do when you get to play the Patriots/Dolphins/Jets 2x a year.