The LA Chargers entered Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders needing a win to usurp the Pittsburgh Steelers for the fifth seed in the NFL Playoffs. While the Bolts started off slow, Jim Harbaugh's team was able to do exactly that with a definitive 34-20 win over the Raiders to close out the 2024 season.
Los Angeles now has a date with the Houston Texans in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Houston will likely be favored as the home team but the Chargers can absolutely upset the Texans on the road in the Wild-Card Round. Then, barring any upsets, the Chargers would have a third date with the Kansas City Chiefs... which is the last thing the Chiefs want to see.
With the win, the Chargers carved out the best possible path in the NFL Playoffs to make a deep run. That wasn't the only thing worth celebrating on Sunday, either. Sophomore Quentin Johnston also turned in the most impressive game of his young career by far.
WHAT A GRAB
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 5, 2025
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/lzMqpVB9bn
Quentin Johnston's breakout game leads Chargers to fifth seed
In addition to turning in Mike Williams-like catches Johnston turned in his most productive game as a pro thus far. The 2023 first-round pick hauled in 13 catches for 185 yards to push his yearly totals up to 55 catches for 710 yards.
It isn't uncommon for receivers to have slow starts only to get going years into their NFL career. And if Johnston follows the same path as Williams did in the past then this game will go down as the inflection point of his career.
It isn't just the numbers that made Johnston's day impressive. He was firing on all cylinders, displaying all of the traits the Chargers fell in love with in 2023. And outside of one inconsequential drop, Johnston's hands were rock solid in the game.
If this is a sign of things to come then the Chargers may actually be able to go on a deeper run in the NFL Playoffs than many expect. One of the biggest holes on the Chargers' roster is the team's pass-catchers but if Johnston is playing like this, suddenly the team's hole turns into a strength.
Even if this does not ignite a career turnaround for the former TCU wideout, it will at least give him momentum heading into the NFL Playoffs. Johnson needed a huge game like this before the playoffs to shake any of the cobwebs of his previous performances.
Don't be surprised if Johnston uses this game to garner momentum for a strong showing in what is hopefully a deep Chargers playoff run.