One year after finishing 5-12, the Los Angeles Chargers and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh have reversed their fortunes in 2024. The Harbaugh magic has worked, as the Bolts have offered reliable play on both sides of the ball.
What do the Chargers’ playoff chances look like entering Week 14? Let’s use Pro Football Network’s Playoff Predictor to analyze Los Angeles’ postseason odds.
Can the Chargers Make the Playoffs?
The Chargers are 8-5 and have a 78.3% chance of making the playoffs. The loss to the Chiefs eliminated them from AFC West contention, but they remain firmly in a playoff berth.
The Chargers can now get into the playoffs in a number of seeds. They cannot get 1-4, but they have a 26.3% of being the fifth seed, 28.4% of being the sixth, and 20.9% of being the seventh.
Can the Chargers Still Win the AFC West?
No. The Kansas City Chiefs officially clinched the division with their last-second win over the Los Angeles Chargers. That is the Chiefs’ ninth straight AFC West title.
AFC Playoff Race | Week 17
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. Buffalo Bills (12-3)
3. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
4. Houston Texans (9-6)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
In The Hunt
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
Eliminated From Playoffs
11. New York Jets (4-11)
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
16. New England Patriots (3-12)
Chargers’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 17: at New England Patriots
- Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders
Chargers Preview Ahead of the Chiefs Game
Ladd McConkey Looks Like a Superstar
Ladd McConkey was the eighth wideout off the board in a loaded 2024 NFL Draft WR class, but the Los Angeles Chargers appear to have hit a home run.
The Georgia product has quickly become Justin Herbert’s favorite target. Entering Week 14, McConkey leads all rookie wide receivers with 815 yards and 2.38 yards per route run. Among first-year WRs, he trails only Malik Nabers in targets (80) and receptions (58).
In terms of efficiency and explosion, McConkey’s production through his first 13 NFL weeks is rivaled only by a few of the league’s best receivers. He’s putting up similar early-career numbers to a future Hall of Famer like Mike Evans and All-Pros such as Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Puka Nacua.
McConkey is battling a knee injury and is questionable for Sunday’s game. Still, even a potential absence can’t damper the second-round rookie’s success in Los Angeles.
Just think: the next wide receiver selected in April’s draft was Ja’Lynn Polk, who went to the New England Patriots three picks after the Chargers selected McConkey. Polk isn’t even starting for the Pats. He’s averaging just 0.37 yards per route run, the second-worst mark for a rookie WR since 2000.