LA Chargers: 4 things that must happen to make the NFL Playoffs

2. Sweep the Las Vegas Raiders

The LA Chargers could make the playoffs without sweeping the Las Vegas Raiders if the Raiders have a collapse and fall out of playoff picture, which is possible. However, based on how they are playing this season, I think it is safe to say that they will be in the fold and the Chargers can decide their fate in the two matchups against them.

The Bolts can afford to lose a game to an NFC team as long as they finish 9-7. They have to play well against the rest of their division.

First of all, it hurts the Raiders’ chances. Supplying the Raiders with two losses already makes their lives harder just from a record standpoint. However, it also helps the Chargers from a tiebreaker standpoint as well.

The Raiders have a win over the Kansas City Chiefs and match up well against the Broncos. The Chargers have to assume that the Raiders will sweep the Broncos, meaning that the Chargers are going to have to sweep their AFC West counterpart to make sure their division record is, at best, 4-2.

That could be huge if both teams end up being 9-7 (which would be tough for the Raiders to do if they dropped two games against the Chargers). If they split then the Chargers are going to need some help from the Broncos and hope for a Raiders collapse. If the Raiders sweep, well, the Chargers wouldn’t finish 9-7, anyway.