OPEN THREAD: Raiders vs. Chargers

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 15: Nick Novak
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 15: Nick Novak /
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Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers host Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders in Week 17. Chat with other Chargers fans on the open thread while watching the game.

And on the season finale of “The 2017 Los Angeles Chargers,” the Chargers come back from the dead and fight for the final wild-card spot in the AFC.

How exciting! The Chargers (8-7) are on the verge of becoming only the second team in NFL history (1992 San Diego Chargers) to make the playoffs after an 0-4 start. They face the Raiders, who have already been eliminated, at home in the StubHub Center. They MUST win this game or they will be eliminated, too.

Not only do the Chargers have to win, but they need the Tennessee Titans (8-7) to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fans also need to keep an eye on two other games: Cincinnati vs. Baltimore and Buffalo vs. Miami. The Chargers CANNOT make the playoffs if they end up in a three-way tie with the Ravens and Bills based on the conference tiebreaker. That said, root for the Ravens to win and the Bills to lose. If both teams win, it doesn’t affect the Chargers because Baltimore will be 10-6 and the Bills will be 9-7, as the Chargers own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Buffalo.

Let’s take a look at the inactives for Sunday’s game:

Our #OAKvsLAC inactives:

QB C. JonesWR G. DavisS A. PhillipsRB R. HansbroughOT M. OlaDT C. LiugetDE J. Attaochu

— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) December 31, 2017

RB Melvin Gordon, LT Russell Okung and LB Denzel Perryman, all of whom were listed as questionable going into the game, are active. That’s huge news for a team that’s facing RB Marshawn Lynch on offense and LB Khalil Mack on defense. Darius Philon, who’s had a sneaky good year, will replace Corey Liuget at DT. Safety Adrian Phillips, who’s also had a decent year, is out, which is important due to the fact that DC Gus Bradley uses Phillips (defensive backs in general) a lot. Perhaps we will see more of fourth-round rookie Rayshawn Jenkins or even linebacker Jatavis Brown.

Let’s hope there’s more open threads in the coming weeks. Happy New Year and go Bolts!