This season started off just like any other in the Norv Turner era. They started 2-5 only to win 4 straight, putting themselves right back in the AFC West race. Even after a bad 15 point home loss to the Raiders, they weren’t out of it, winning back-to-back games and stomping division leading Kansas City 31-0 week 14.

They looked ready to make another late season comeback to win the division. But then something happened. They didn’t finish. They didn’t show up week 16 in a 34-20 loss to the lowly Bengals, eliminating themselves and allowing Kansas City to win the division. It’s like they got so overconfident in their ability to suck in the beginning and finish strong that they forgot to actually put in the effort to finish strong.

They finished the year 9-7, in 2^nd place in the division. Their record ruined Philip Rivers’ MVP case despite Rivers’ amazing stats, 66% completion, 8.7 yards per attempt, 30 touchdowns to 13 picks and a 101.8 QB rating. Had this team made the playoffs, his name would be in there with Brady’s and Vick’s for MVP.

So many of their losses were winnable games if it wasn’t for stupid mistakes, especially on special teams, at the wrong time. Norv Turner should have been fired. They haven’t started a season well in his tenure there and he failed to take easily one of the top 5 most talented teams in the league to the playoffs this year. In fact, this team actually ranked 1^st in yardage defense and offense, and still finished 9-7.

However, Norv Turner will be brought back for financial reasons. This team is too cheap to be paying two coaches at once. Fortunately for them, the Chiefs were exposed as the biggest frauds of the year week 17 and in the playoffs, and the Raiders have been in a bit of disarray since the season ended so if they can get things together, this has to be the favorite in 2011. They just can’t continue to lose so many winnable games.