Tag: Chargers playoff

Updated AFC playoff picture after wins by Chiefs, Jaguars

The final week of the 2022 regular season kicked off on Saturday, with the Chiefs and Jaguars picking up wins.

The final week of the 2022 regular season kicked off on Saturday, with the Chiefs and Jaguars picking up wins.

After the victory over the Raiders, Kansas City has officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Jacksonville’s win over the Titans means it is the AFC South champions and the No. 4 seed.

Updated AFC Playoff Picture entering Sunday

  1. Chiefs (14-3) — won at Raiders, clinched No. 1 seed
  2. Bills (12-3) —  vs. Patriots
  3. Bengals (11-4) — vs. Ravens
  4. Jaguars (8-8) — won vs. Jaguars, clinched No. 4 seed
  5. Chargers (10-6) — at Broncos
  6. Ravens (10-6) — at Bengals
  7. Patriots (8-8) — at Bills

On the bubble

  • Dolphins (8-8) — vs. Jets
  • Steelers (8-8) — vs. Browns

For the Chargers, if the Ravens lose to the Bengals at 10 am PT, they will clinch the No. 5 seed and face the Jaguars next weekend. However, if Baltimore beats Cincinnati, Los Angeles will have to beat the Broncos to clinch the fifth seed.

If the Ravens beat the Bengals and the Bolts lose to the Broncos, L.A. will be the sixth seed and take on Cincinnati in the Wild Card round.

Watch: Chargers’ Brandon Staley gives game ball to Dean Spanos

Following the Chargers’ victory over the Colts, Brandon Staley didn’t give the game ball to one of the players or coaches.

Following the Chargers’ playoff-clinching victory over the Colts, head coach Brandon Staley did not give the game ball to one of the players or coaches.

Instead, he gave it to owner Dean Spanos.

“I’ve got one game ball here,” Staley said in his post-game speech in the locker room. “We’re a team run by a family. None of us would be here if it weren’t for a special someone.

“I’ve been hoping to give him a game ball since I got here. I’ve been hoping,” Staley added. ‘He’s been patient. He’s invested in this team. He’s brought all of us together. Look around, guys; we’re all here because of him. Game ball…playoff appearance…Dean Spanos.”

Spanos did not say much, adding how proud he is of the team and wants them to end the season on a high note ahead of the playoffs.

The Chargers will be heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. This marks Staley and quarterback Justin Herbert’s postseason debut.

Division officially out of reach for Chargers

For the sixth-straight season, the Chiefs are AFC West champions.

For the sixth-straight season, the Chiefs are AFC West champions following their win over the Steelers and the Chargers’ loss to the Texans in Week 16.

There was still a chance Los Angeles could have won the division, even after falling to Kansas City in Week 15. That would’ve required winning out and the Chiefs losing at least two, including one to the Broncos in the final week.

While being crowned AFC West champs was a slim possibility, the Bolts would have been able to cruise their way into the playoffs by simply beating each of the remaining opponents on their schedule.

But after the upset loss to Houston, the Chargers need to win their final two games against the Broncos and Raiders and get help from others facing the few AFC teams that are also in the hunt.

Entering Week 16, the Bolts had a 71% chance of making the playoffs. Now, that number has dropped to 33%.

Flashback Friday: Chargers survive Ravens in AFC wild-card game

Relive the last time the Chargers and Ravens met.

The last time the Chargers and Ravens met was in a 2018 AFC Wild Card bout.

Los Angeles faced Lamar Jackson, who was in his rookie season. At 21, Jackson was the youngest quarterback in the NFL to start a playoff game.

The Bolts took advantage of his youth, sacking Jackson six times and forcing him to fumble twice, heading into the fourth quarter with a significant lead, 23-3.

That was before Jackson threw two touchdown passes to claw the Ravens back in and give the Chargers a bit of a scare.

As Jackson got the ball with less than a minute to go down six points, Los Angeles could only wonder if this would conclude their season.

The Bolts did what had been working for them all season by coming up huge with a defensive takeaway, thanks to linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who had the game-clinching strip-sack.

Jackson finished the game 14 of 29 passing for 194 passing yards, 54 rushing yards, two scores, and an interception.

QB Philip Rivers went 22 for 32 for 160 yards.

Kicker Michael Badgley set the Chargers franchise record for field goals in a playoff game (5). Badgley made his attempts from 21, 53, 40, 34, and 47 yards.

The 23-17 victory sent the Bolts to the AFC Divisional Round to take on the Patriots, where the team’s season came to an end after suffering defeat.