Coming into this year, I had a theory: the right teams will always be there come playoff time. No matter what, the team that has a chance to do damage in the playoffs will find a way to get in, and the pretenders will shoot themselves in the foot.

            I no longer have that theory.

            After watching the Oakland Raiders self-destruct on Sunday and the San Diego Chargers self-destruct for the season’s first 12 weeks, I was still con...