Detroit. Detroit.

The Box would like to offer a big, "Welcome home," to the San Diego Chargers team who won last year's AFC West Division with a record of 12 and 4 and showed up Sunday to mercilessly humiliate the New England Patriots. Fellas, we've missed you.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say San Diego was the best team in the NFL during Week 4. No other team played as well. The Bolts picked the right Sunday to get good, playing the reigning world champion on the reigning world champion's home field and winning by 24 points.

Pats head coach Bill Belichick said it best, "No doubt about it, San Diego is the better team.... They did a good job in every area. Better than we did. Pick out anything you want. They did a better job at everything."

The second half was murderous. The Chargers ripped 36 offensive plays for 243 yards; Pats managed 19 offensive plays for 61 yards. Chargers had the ball 21 minutes against 9 minutes for the Pats. Chargers scored 24 points in the second half; New England was shut out and had to walk home.

This brings the Chargers up to 2--2. Sunday's game will, as an unintended, but nevertheless unhappy consequence, inflate their point spread for the next month. This is sad. Still, it marked a welcome transformation from that blob we saw stumble around the playing field in Week 1 and Week 2. Saying that, it would be wise to keep in mind that Green Bay is 0--4, Washington is 3--0, Tampa Bay is 4--0, and -- you better sit down for this one -- the Cincinnati Bengals are 4--0.

It's clear the NFL has entered a new developmental phase. Good teams turn bad. Bad teams turn good. One wonders how to make sense of this. Well, wonder no longer, I have the answer. Want to know what's up with the Chargers? Get out your songbook, come over here and sing out:

San Diego Super Chargers,

San Diego Chargers!

San Diego Super Chargers,

San Diego Chargers!

Charge!

We're coming your way,

We're gonna dazzle you with our super play.

The time has come,

You know we're shooting for number one.

With thunderbolts and lightning

We'll light up the sky,

We'll give it all we've got, and more

With the Super Charger try!

Lately, an odd, unnatural feeling has invaded the fleshy temple I call "Me." Since Sunday, my chakra has been churning up a new vision -- one of hope, optimism, badminton games in the backyard, Sunday dinner with mom, children jumping in the neighborhood swimming pool, and gasoline at 75 cents a gallon. What I'm trying to say is, I keep seeing the Chargers in Super Bowl XL.

Only last month, my chakra felt like a pair of pants three sizes too small, although that's not quite right, I'm neglecting the added dimension of self-loathing and futility. Spend a lost weekend in Needles with an old girlfriend and you'll know what I mean. Or, to put it another way: NFL Week 1, Dallas 28, San Diego 24.

We've got a plan,

We're gonna do it for our super fans.

All we seek,

Is the goal line to victory.

We'll ignite you, excite you

With high voltage play.

We won't let up a minute,

We're going all the way -- all the way!

San Diego Super Chargers,

San Diego Chargers!

San Diego Super Chargers,

San Diego Chargers!

Charge!

There's our chart, matey. Hold the compass straight and true and, in due time, we will come ashore in Detroit. Detroit in February. That's a good thing.

* * *

NFL Week 4 stupid quotes:

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals head coach, was asked to describe his team's performance after beating Houston 16 to 10. Lewis said, "We knew it was going to be a tough, physical football game."

Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy. "Special-teams-wise, we did what we need to do to."

Miami head coach Nick Saban. "You are always really looking for the players to get the kind of intensity that you want back, in terms of what we need to do."

Arizona head coach and human disappointment Dennis Green. "I think we just feel better about playing a better game. That's really the key. We are glad we are playing better..."

San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan, after losing 31--14 to the pathetic Arizona Cardinals. "Our target has not changed. As far as it may sound fetched, when you look at it from a statistical measure, we are only one game out of first [place in the NFC West]."