Chargers have golden opportunity to make history, grab control of AFC West

It may only be Week 3 of the National Football League season, but the schedule may give the Los Angeles Chargers a chance to take early control of the AFC West and reset some franchise history as well.

After beating the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil in Week 1 and winning a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, the Chargers will welcome the Denver Broncos to SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon for another divisional battle. BetMGM has the Chargers as a three-point home favorite over the 1-1 Broncos.

Los Angeles Chargers could notch historic win against Denver Broncos

If the Chargers beat Denver on Sunday, it would give the Bolts a 3-0 mark with all three wins coming against divisional opponents. With tiebreakers always a premium in what was expected to be one of the NFL's most competitive divisions, a 3-0 start could be a huge advantage for a Chargers team that won't see another AFC West foe until after their bye week in late November.

While the Chargers would get a boost in the current season from beginning 3-0, a win on Sunday would also rewrite some of the franchise marks as well.

Before current head coach Jim Harbaugh was hired before the 2024 campaign, the most recent 2-0 start for the Chargers came in 2012. A victory against the Broncos would mark the first 3-0 start for the franchise since 2002.

That, however, wasn't against all division foes. Starting the season with three consecutive AFC West teams doesn't happen often, and winning all three of those games is even more rare. The last time the Chargers secured wins in their first three AFC West games in a season was in 1996.

Going 3-0 against your division foes is a rarity among NFL teams as well. Downing the Broncos on Sunday would mean the Chargers would become the third team since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002 to open their season with a 3-0 record that includes wins over all three of their divisional foes.

How big is Sunday for both the Chargers and Broncos? With a win, Los Angeles would have wins over all of their division rivals this season and at least a one-game lead over the 1-1 Raiders (depending on the outcome of their game at the Washington Commanders) and would have a two-game edge over the currently 1-1 Broncos. A loss, however, would at least pull the Broncos and Chargers even at 2-1, with Denver having the early tiebreaker.

In terms of franchise history and current standings, the outcome of Sunday's game is important for the Chargers, who have a chance to firmly plant themselves on top of the AFC West with another win.