At this point, everyone knows the Los Angeles Chargers are 3-0, and at 1-2, the Denver Broncos are well aware that they face an uphill climb to get back in the AFC West race. 

But there’s one aspect of LA’s fast start that’s being overlooked to some extent: That start is historic, as well. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the Chargers are the first team in almost 20 years to race out to a 3-0 record with all three wins coming against division opponents. The last team to do it was the Chicago Bears in 2006, and that team went on to win the Super Bowl. 

The Broncos were one of LA’s three victims, and this particular record isn’t just early fluff. With the Kansas City Chiefs stumbling out of the gate, the AFC West looks like it might be a close, three-team race, which means those division games matter more than ever. 

They also matter in the context of the AFC as a whole. Tie-breakers could come into play late in the year, and conference record often plays a key role in establishing home field advantage and a possible bye as well. 

The Broncos want to be part of the math here, but they have a long way to go to get there. Last year the goal was mostly to get in and have a puncher’s chance in a playoff game, but this year the expectations are higher. 

The first step is to step on the throat of the struggling Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are 2-1, but with Joe Burrow injured and out for months, that record is something of a mirage. Cincinnati was destroyed by the Minnesota Vikings last week, 48-10, and it will be up to coach Sean Payton and quarterback Bo Nix to keep the Bengals down and out. 

Long term, it’s worth looking at those other division games to see who’s up when in these key divisional battles. The first sequence happens in early November, when the Broncos get the Las Vegas Raiders and the Chiefs in back-to-back home games. 

That sequence represents a great chance to build momentum, but the Broncos hope the really big games happen when Christmas rolls around. They travel to Kansas City for a holiday game, then get the Chargers at home to wrap things up. When it comes to meaningful games, those two are the big ones for Denver fans.