SAN DIEGO — A five-game winning streak snapped and a degree of invincibility, too?

The San Diego Chargers’ 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday came with plenty of heartache. But there’s a question if it arrive with a heaping of perspective.

There’s no discounting the Chargers’ bolt from the gate, winning five of six — wins in the NFL are wins. But at closer inspection, many of those wins came against teams with inferior talent to that of the Chiefs.

And there’s plenty more just like that waiting after K.C.’s visit. The Chargers head to Denver on Thursday night with exactly one win over a team playing better than .500. And if you guessed the Buffalo Bills, you probably peaked.

But maybe the Broncos and then a trip to Miami comes at a good time for the Chargers. They can’t sulk over letting the Chiefs climb back into the AFC West race, not when playing the AFC defending champ so quickly.

If the Chargers’ minds remain on Sunday’s blown tackles, dreadful showing on third downs on both sides of the ball and bonehead penalties, they have no chance in Denver.

And that’s not lost on coach Mike McCoy and the players.

“We got to push that game aside,” McCoy said on Monday. “We got to learn from that game, but this is a short week.”

If you believe they got fat off the soft underbelly of their schedule, that’s legit.

If you believe they got fat off the soft underbelly of their schedule, that’s legit. But there’s no arguing the real part of the Chargers’ slate has arrived, with their third game against an AFC West foe in 11 days coming on Thursday.

“We’ve got to play better against a very good team,” McCoy said. “A very well-coached team.”

After the Broncos it’s a trip to Miami, which won on the road at Chicago on Sunday.

The heat is getting turned up on the Chargers.

Are they for real, once mentioned among Super Bowl contenders thanks to a five-game winning streak?

Or a fraud which wiped its feet on the NFL doormats?

With a Thursday night date in Denver, the answer could come quickly.

“I think our players are focused,” McCoy said. “And they will be tuned in.”