Had the Chargers defeated the Raiders this past Sunday, they would have moved up two spots to the seventh seed after the Patriots lost to the Bills and the Vikings beat the Jets.
However, the loss to Las Vegas kept Los Angeles the ninth seed in the AFC. New England, who has the same record, wins the team breaker because it is a game up in conference record.
L.A. has a 30% chance of making the playoffs, down from 50% heading into Week 13, according to Five Thirty-Eight’s model. The Patriots have a 25% chance, and the Jets have a 48% chance.
The Chargers have back-to-back matchups with two tough teams, the Dolphins this week and the Titans next week, both at home.
Los Angeles has been one of the most injured teams in the league.
It’s been without many players, including Joey Bosa, Rashawn Slater, and J.C. Jackson, and players like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Corey Linsley have missed multiple games.
But it goes beyond that.
Justin Herbert is playing at a high level. But the offensive scheme and play-calling are doing him no favors.
On the other side of the ball, Brandon Staley’s defense ranks near the bottom of the league. The personnel issues are a factor, but it is still not ideal for someone touted as a defensive guru.
With only five games remaining, and the next two being against two of the best teams in the conference, the Chargers face an uphill climb to make the playoffs. Will they do it? Is it too little too late?
Predict Los Angeles’ final record below.
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