Following the Snake Eyes event in Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Chargers emerged victorious.
The Chargers jet into the desert to face off against the Raiders on Sunday, sporting a radically different appearance compared to their last stint here.
Los Angeles' previous sojourn in Nevada was anything but pleasant.
Visualize a disheveled gambler, with his bare pockets jutting out, attempt to borrow a cigarette from someone on the Las Vegas strip.
That, folks, was the Chargers' fate following their humiliation, embarrassment, and annihilation at the hands of the Raiders two Decembers ago, 63-21.
If you were there or watched the excruciating broadcast, it was apparent the game wasn't as close as the score suggested.
The Chargers had transformed into a national joke and a mere shadow of what the Spanos family, who own the team, had envisioned after leaving San Diego following the 2016 season.
Each loss in what would be a 5-12 downfall, saw the last-place Bolts sinking in the LA sports hierarchy. Something significant was needed.
Club chairman Dean Spanos acted swiftly in relieving coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco the morning after the most abhorrent four quarters in franchise history.
More importantly, Spanos shifted the unstable organization's course during the offseason, by signing coach Jim Harbaugh to a five-year, $80 million contract.
Spano also lured personnel whiz Joe Hortiz away from the Baltimore Ravens' nest, offering a tempting deal to take the Chargers' general manager's hat.
The result of Spanos' brave and unconventional moves has the Chargers swaggering into Sin City as if they could read the dealers' cards before they turn them over.
LA has morphed from a joke to a playoff team, a feat that seemed inconceivable 13 months ago.
It wasn't simple and never is.
So, the Chargers streamlined a roster loaded with dead and expensive weight, tried to construct a roster to Harbaugh's liking while settling salary cap debts that could no longer be ignored.
What cannot be disregarded were edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack renegotiating their deals, while wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler were shown the door.
All of that, and more, opened a chance that will bathe the Chargers in sunlight, despite Sunday's game being indoors.
From the outside, some believe LA took advantage of a soft schedule.
They're right, but the evidence also reveals a smart draft, with right tackle Joe Alt and wide receiver Ladd McConkey being added.
Exhibit B would be Hortiz signing budget-friendly players—among them running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, center Bradley Bozeman, cornerback Kristian Fulton, and defensive lineman Poona Ford—who delivered more production than their paychecks should have warranted.
Their influence was evident in the team's latest victory, a rout of the New England Patriots, 40-7.
Suddenly, the Chargers were on the good side of blowouts, and it feels fantastic.
“We had a significant opportunity and we seized it,” quarterback Justin Herbert said afterwards.
It's what lies ahead that excites a Chargers fanbase that is making room for others on the bandwagon.
LA's defense has been excellent—cheers to you, Shawne Merriman—for most of the season, and now the offense, under an efficient Herbert, is clicking as well.
Still, few predict that the Chargers will embark on a deep playoff run, considering their lack of stars and their performances this season against top-tier teams that aren't tied to the whipping post.
Then again, few foresaw the Chargers in the playoffs and on the verge of notching their second 11-win season in 15 years in August.
The Chargers will go for that 11th victory, and potentially elevate to being the AFC's fifth-seeded playoff team, when they strut into Allegiant Stadium this weekend.
On the other side is the basement-dwelling Raiders (4-12), exhibiting a discouraged demeanor that the Chargers are intimately familiar with.
It's one that they don't want to experience again. Because of Harbaugh and Hortiz, it likely won't happen soon.
Welcome back, Bolts. Not only to Las Vegas, but to respectability in the NFL.
In light of the Chargers' transformation, sports teams are now viewing them as a potential business opportunity. The new-look Chargers have garnered interest from various sponsors, eager to associate with their success.
With the team's financial situation improving due to increased revenue from successful games and endorsements, the Chargers are now able to invest in further improvements, ensuring their longevity and success in the competitive world of sports business.
