The Los Angeles Chargers playoff scenarios for Week 18 are somewhat limited after they clinched their spot in the postseason a couple of weeks ago. However, entering this week, the Chargers can still shape their NFL playoff fortunes, with both the fifth and sixth seed a possibility depending on the various results this weekend.
Update: Ravens Lose, Seeding Determined Following Game
Chargers staff, players, and fans have been watching the Bengals vs. Ravens game this afternoon. With the Ravens losing, Los Angeles now knows they’ll finish as the fifth seed in the AFC playoff picture and take on the Jaguars next weekend.
Chargers Playoff Scenarios To Watch for in Week 18
The Chargers enter this week as the fifth-placed team in terms of seedings within the NFL standings. Whether they remain as the fifth seed is very much in their own hands this week. A victory over the Denver Broncos will see the Chargers as the road team against the winner of the NFC South.
In that scenario, the best the Baltimore Ravens can do in that scenario is to match the Chargers at 11-6, but they cannot surpass the Chargers when it comes to playoff tiebreakers. The two did not face each other this year, so it comes down to conference record. If both teams win, then the Chargers will have an 8-4 record in the AFC, with the Ravens having a 7-5 conference record.
However, if the Chargers fail to beat the Broncos, then the Ravens could jump them if they defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in their Week 18 game. It is worth noting that the Chargers may well know whether they have the fifth seed locked up before they play in Week 18.
The NFL schedule has placed the game between the Ravens and Bengals in the 1 p.m. ET window. If the Ravens fail to win, then the Chargers will be the fifth seed regardless of their result. However, if the Ravens either win or tie against the Bengals, then the Chargers will need to at least match that result to clinch the fifth seed. Therefore, depending on the result of the Ravens’ game, we could see the Chargers resting their starters against the Broncos.
Even if the Chargers win and clinch the fifth seed this week, FiveThirtyEight still believes they are fighting an uphill battle to win the Super Bowl this season. Their playoff predictor gives the Chargers just a 1% chance of winning it all this year. That is largely due to the fact the Chargers face the possibility of three road games if they are even to make it to the Super Bowl this season.