With the Bengals’ win over the Steelers, the Chargers would clinch the fifth seed in the AFC with a win over Las Vegas on Sunday. The AFC Wild Card Weekend scenarios play out like this for Los Angeles:
Chargers’ win over Raiders: Los Angeles clinches the fifth seed, would be @ Houston in the first round.
Chargers’ loss to Raiders: Los Angeles clinches the sixth seed, would be @ Baltimore in the first round.
A point of discussion this week in Chargers’ media avaialbility is exactly what the game plan would be on Sunday with the Steelers/Bengals possibilities. HC Jim Harbaugh was adamant throughout the week that the team was gunning for the 5th seed.
“If we were locked into a seed-we’re not locked into a seed. We’re playing to move up,” Harbaugh said at his media availability on Monday. ”We’d love to be in the fifth seed. That gives you a chance to have a playoff game at home. It could even be in the divsional round at home, and the championship game at home. That’s where things stand for us. So, plan is win. And that’s been our mindset from the very beginning. Win the next game, so that’s where we’re at.”
If the Steelers had won, conversations might’ve been had about rest for key starters or if it was worth playing QB Justin Herbert at all. In a similar scenario in 2022 when the Chargers had clinched the fifth seed, Brandon Staley opted to play his starters three quarters vs. Denver. It resulted in what would be a season-ending injury to Mike Williams as he could not return for the Wild Card game at Jacksonville.
Nevertheless, the Harbaugh era is new and different. With seeding now still in the air, there’s not an option to rest starters unless the Chargers develop an insurmountable lead at Vegas.
Thanks to some help from the Bengals, the Chargers’ playoff road may have just gotten easier if they can seal the deal tomorrow.