The Los Angeles Chargers have clinched a playoff spot in their first season under coach Jim Harbaugh, and have two potential opponents. As Chargers fans prepare for their Wild Card matchup, let’s look at how their strengths and weaknesses fair against their playoff opponents.
Analyzing the Los Angeles Chargers Potential Playoff Opponents
Scenario One: At the Baltimore Ravens
If the Ravens win in Week 18 they lock up the one seed. This is the most likely scenario, but also the less attractive of the two. Lamar Jackson is firmly in the MVP race, and the offense is a battleaxe ripping through cheese. They’re third in points scored per game, and it’s not a one-dimensional system. Despite being second in rushing yards per game, the Ravens are also sixth in passing yards per game. They’re a runaway train on offense, but there is hope on their defensive side of the ball.
The Ravens have been unstoppable on offense. But their defense has been fairly pedestrian. They are middle of the pack in points allowed per game, yards per pass attempt, and are bottom of the league in passing yards allowed per game. With Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey forming a telepathic connection, they can exploit the Ravens poor passing defense. Unfortunately, the Ravens are the best rush defense in the league from a yards per attempt standpoint. If the Chargers can pull out an upset in Baltimore, they’ll need to air it out in the playoffs.
Scenario Two: At the Pittsburgh Steelers
If, and this is a very big if, the Ravens lose to Cleveland and the Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chargers would go to Pittsburgh to meet their playoff opponents. This is a much more favorable matchup for the Chargers, even though they lost to the Steelers in Week 3.
While the Ravens offense feels unstoppable, the Steelers offense feels… ineffective. They rely on chunk plays and a clunky rushing attack to trickle up the field. Bottom line, their offense isn’t anything to be afraid of. On the other side of the ball, the Steelers have been effective earlier in the season, but recent reports say that the defense is losing faith in one another to carry out their assigned roles. Not exactly a winning recipe for slowing down an effective Chargers offense.
The Steelers are still tough against the run, but their passing defense has been exposed in the past few weeks. When you combine their inefficiencies on offense with their streak of ineptitude on defense, they are the more desirable outcome for the Chagers playoff opponents.
Week 18 Rooting Guide for Chargers Fans
If Chargers fans want to see how their team matches up against the best in the league, a Ravens win will guarantee that. If they want an easier matchup in the first round of the playoffs and to better their chances of their first playoff win in six years, we want a Browns win and a Bengals loss. Either way, it lines up to be an exciting season of post-season football.
Watch: Chargers Possible Draft Target
Main Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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