Jim Harbaugh all but confirms if Chargers starters will play in Week 18

The LA Chargers clinched a trip to the NFL Playoffs with a huge 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots on Saturday. All the Chargers had to do was win one game in the last two weeks and Jim Harbaugh's team wasted no time doing so.

Los Angeles has another favorable matchup in Week 18 on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders. With the playoffs already clinched, and memories of Mike Williams getting hurt in a pointless Week 18 game two years ago, many fans are wondering if the Chargers will play their starters in Las Vegas.

While nothing is concrete, Harbaugh essentially confirmed that his starters will play against the Raiders in Week 18. Ten wins aren't enough for Harbaugh and the Bolts, who are aiming for 11.

Chargers have a huge reason to play starters in Week 18

While the playoffs are locked no matter what, the Chargers have a huge reason to play the starters in Week 18 that is bigger than just getting to 11 wins. The fifth seed in the AFC is within reach for the Chargers, who should be doing everything imaginable to secure that spot.

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the fifth seed in the AFC with the same record as the Chargers. However, with a head-to-head loss against the Steelers, the Chargers would need to outright beat Pittsburgh in the standings to be the fifth seed.

Pittsburgh has lost three games in a row and has shown its true colors in the process. This is a team that peaked too early and losing in Week 18 is absolutely in the cards. The Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals, who could be playing for a playoff spot.

Even if the Bengals don't have a chance to make the playoffs, Joe Burrow and Co. are dangerous and won't roll over against a division rival. It is a losable game for the Steelers. With a win, the Chargers would usurp a losing Steelers team.

This would give the Chargers a first-round matchup against the Houston Texans, who look like the most beatable division-winner in the entire league. Houston's offense is extremely banged up and Joe Mixon has come back down to Earth.

Houston's 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas showed just how beatable this Texans team is. Granted, that is the worst the Texans will ever look, but it still a lot about how this team compares to other division winners.

The Chargers' path to winning a playoff game gets much tougher without the fifth seed. As it stands right now, the Chargers are matched up against the Ravens, who beat LA fairly easily earlier this season.

Los Angeles has to go through the top teams in the AFC regardless to make the Super Bowl. The later the Chargers can play these tough games the better. That is why the fifth seed is so important, and why the Chargers will likely play their starters in Week 18.