The Los Angeles Chargers took another crucial step toward securing their playoff fate with their massive, 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Now, the most ironic and surprising turn of events of the season could finish the job for them. Philip Rivers is slated to start at quarterback on Monday against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Indianapolis Colts cannot come away with a victory, the Chargers will clinch the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Imagine being told before the season that not only would Rivers be getting multiple NFL starts this year but that they could have a direct bearing on his long-time team's playoff berth. Wild, right?
As ironic as it might seem, Los Angeles is now dependent on their former quarterback to ease their stress heading into the final two weeks of the season.
The Philip Rivers-led Indianapolis Colts can now seal the Chargers' fate
With their win over Dallas, the Chargers needed either a Houston Texans or a Colts loss to clinch the playoffs. The Texans came away with a strangely narrow victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, 23-21, so all eyes now turn to Indianapolis.
In Rivers' surprising return to the NFL, the Colts held up well against one of the premier defenses in the league in the Seattle Seahawks. Rivers, albeit limited in mobility, completed 18 of his 27 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Although the Seahawks ultimately ended the match with a game-winning field goal, Rivers' performance was distinctly impressive considering his age.
They will now head home to face off against a distinctly strange 49ers team. Since their blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams in early November, San Francisco has rattled off four straight wins. Yet with the Detroit Lions' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, they have now already clinched a NFC Wild Card berth.
With a banged-up defense and little reason to grind out the win, the 49ers will likely present significantly less of a challenge to Rivers than the Seahawks did.
The Colts, meanwhile, sit with just a 3% chance to make the playoffs according to The Athletic NFL Playoff Simulator. For the most part, they will simply be fighting for their pride on Monday night.
To be clear, a Colts' loss would simply represent a formality for the Chargers. They currently sit with a greater than 99% chance to clinch a playoff spot over the final two weeks of the season. Nevertheless, a disappointing performance from Rivers could go a long way toward easing fans' stress heading into Week 17.