The Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens seem to be on a collision course for a matchup in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. While the playoff seeds are still up in the air, most outcomes will involve the sixth-seed Chargers traveling to face the third-seed Ravens in the first round of the postseason. While there is no such thing as an easy playoff game, some matchups are easier than others.
The Baltimore Ravens look like legitimate contenders and the Chargers odds of winning in the Wild Card round increase substantially if they play the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Houston Texans. Los Angeles will face the Texans if they claim the fifth seed and will face the Steelers if they maintain the sixth seed but have the Steelers win the AFC North. So, how can these scenarios unfold?
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How the Chargers Can Avoid the Ravens In the AFC Wild Card Round
Plan A: Get the 5 Seed
The Houston Texans already clinched the AFC South, and their relatively pedestrian 9-7 means they are locked into the fourth seed. While they will host a playoff game, they’ll have to face off against the highest-ranked Wild Card team, which could be the Chargers. In all likelihood, Los Angeles will have the sixth seed when all is said and done, but they have a somewhat realistic path to the fifth seed.
First and foremost, the Chargers need to take care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders. Fortunately, the Raiders are one of the worst teams in football, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Assuming they win, they will also need the Pittsburgh Steelers to lose against the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Steelers will be favorites, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense have the potential to beat anyone in a shootout. Additionally, this team will be fighting for its playoff lives, as the Bengals are still alive in the playoff hunt.
This scenario will give the Chargers an 11-6 record, while the Steelers fall to 10-7. This is the best-case scenario for Los Angeles, as Houston’s offense has not played up to their potential in 2024 and should continue to struggle with Tank Dell done for the season. While the Chargers probably won’t win it all this year, Justin Herbert should get his first playoff win against the struggling C.J. Stroud.
Plan B: Root Against the Ravens
The Los Angeles Chargers cannot get the fifth seed if the Pittsburgh Steelers take care of business against the Cincinnati Bengals. They can, however, avoid the Ravens if Baltimore drops their Week 18 contest against the Cleveland Browns. This is, admittedly, incredibly unlikely, as the Browns are one of the worst teams in football and cannot move the ball with former fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson leading the offense. Since taking over for Jameis Winston, the second-year quarterback has guided the team to just nine points in two games and has yet to throw a touchdown.
However, games aren’t played on paper, and weird things happen all the time in the NFL, especially in divisional matchups. If the Steelers beat the Bengals and the Ravens lose to the Browns, Pittsburgh will win the AFC North and the Chargers will face them in the Wild Card round. Plan A has a higher chance of happening, but in reality, Los Angeles should prepare for a postseason battle with potential MVP Lamar Jackson.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
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