NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:'Huge' win against Bears could ignite Chargers in wide open AFC

INGLEWOOD,NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center Calif. — A wild Week 8 illustrated that there’s not a prohibitive favorite in the NFL.

By the time the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers kicked off Sunday night, seven games had been decided by one score. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs were upset, and the previously dominant San Francisco 49ers lost their third straight.

This season, over 70 percent of all games had been within one score in the fourth quarter.

It’s rare when a game is already decided by the final quarter. But at SoFi Stadium Sunday night, fans were headed toward the exits as the Chargers were in the process of routing the Bears in what Chargers coach Brandon Staley described as the team’s most complete performance of the regular season thus far.  

"I think it was. It was our most complete week of practice, too. I thought that that was what we were in search of, is to feel that complete game where you're feeding off each other and your level is high the whole way," Staley said following the Chargers’ 30-13 win over the Bears. "There are going to be some things that we need to improve on, for sure. It wasn't like it was this perfect performance, but I liked the level of play. I thought the level of play, the style of play, was much more of what we're capable of."

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Justin Herbert completed his first 15 passes and led the Chargers offense on five straight scoring drives. The Chargers defense forced two takeaways and kicker Cameron Dicker made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder.

"We went out there and had a victory of all three phases," Herbert said.

It was the type of complementary football and four-quarter performance that’s been absent from an underachieving Chargers team since the start of the regular season and the preeminent reason why they find themselves having to dig out of an early season hole.

Even at 3-4, the landscape of the AFC proves the Chargers are still very much alive in the conference. There are four two-loss teams, five three-loss teams and seven teams with at least four losses in the AFC.

Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. said the Chargers needed Sunday’s win to build momentum as they attempt to go on a similar run as they did in 2022. Los Angeles started 1-2 last season and were 5-5 after Week 11 before they won five of their last seven to advance to the postseason.

"We just got to keep it rolling. Take one game at a time and maximize each game. It’s a good thing that we got a win under our belt. We just got to keep building off of this. … It definitely was a must-win. We got to keep building, though. It’s a long season. We have to make sure we build off of this. Keep going hard and not get complacent," Samuel told USA TODAY Sports. "I feel like every week is a must-win, especially with how we started."

Week 9’s Monday night showdown between the Chargers and New York Jets (4-3) has big implications in the AFC hierarchy. But if the Chargers can build off their most complete performance of the regular season, they are very much in the mix in a competitive AFC where every squad is vulnerable.

"I think every win is important. But this one, we saw all three phases get after it − special teams, offense (and) defense. I think that's what we needed," Herbert said. “That gives us the confidence going forward. A win like that is huge."

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.