Chargers Path to the Playoffs: Are You Okay With Them Backing in?

To my knowledge, the two simplest ways for the Chargers to get into the playoffs are this. The Chiefs lose out and the Chargers win out. That makes the Chargers the division champs and 4th seed. This is the least likely scenario of all considering the Chiefs play the Dolphins and the Broncos to finish the season. The most realistic way for the Chargers to get in is a little more complicated. It’s also much more likely.

Ravens win out. Baltimore faces the Colts and the Bengals. The Colts aren’t very talented and the Bengals look like a team that’s quit. This shouldn’t be a problem. Titans lose out. Tennessee is playing awful. They are easily the worst team. When you stop their running game, they can’t get anything going. Their defense gives zero resistance. They face a Rams team that has something to play for this week and a Jaguars team that can technically still clinch the 1-seed. The way they’re playing, it seems feasible they won’t beat either of these teams. Bills lose 1 of 2. Buffalo plays a Patriots team that has something to play for this weekend. They’re 14-point underdogs. I think it’ll be closer than that, but they won’t win. They finish the season against Miami. That would eliminate the Titans, as they’d have 8 losses. That’d propel the Ravens to the 5th seed. Because the Chargers beat the Bills (thanks, Sean McDermott), they have the head to head tiebreaker. So the Chargers would be the 6th seed and more than likely face Jacksonville the first round. More needs to happen, but it’s also more plausible.

Chargers win out. First things first, the Chargers have to win out. The Jets are very well coached. Luckily, they don’t have a quarterback. They still gave the Saints everything they could handle last week. They’re one of those teams that play well above their skill level. Even with the recent rash of injuries, the Chargers should still win. But it won’t be a walk in the park. Who are we kidding, it never is. As for the last game of the season. The Raiders stink. If they can’t beat them, they don’t deserve to be anywhere near the playoffs.

My question to you is, are you okay with the Chargers sneaking in the back door to the playoffs? The Jaguars loss still kills me. When you lose games like that you have to rely on other teams. I don’t like that. Wish the team could take care of business themselves. If they are able to sneak in, do you think they can do any damage? Or is this a 1 and done situation? Who would you most want to play round one versus least likely to play? Will everything happen that needs to happen?