It’s reminding me a bit of 2008, when the Chargers came back from 4-8 and beat Denver in the final game to make the playoffs. They play at Oakland in week 17, and it’s not unreasonable for that game to be for the division. It could be an 8-8 division winner again.
And being a SD fan does feel like Sisyphus, although personally I’m more mellow about it than I used to be. The playoff losses to the Patriots in 06 and 07 were infuriating, but now when things like the KC loss happen I just laugh :).