With the Los Angeles Chargers sitting at 8-4, the final stretch of the season is shaping up to be a high-stakes sprint. Five games remain: vs.
Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, and at Broncos.
The math is simple - three more wins likely lock up the 5-seed in the AFC and a date with the AFC North winner in Wild Card Weekend. But the path to those 11 wins?
That’s where things get interesting.
There are no freebies left on the schedule. Every opponent has teeth.
Every matchup brings a different kind of challenge. But if the Chargers want to control their own destiny and avoid scoreboard-watching in Week 18, here’s where the wins can realistically come from.
Win No. 1 - Week 14 vs. Eagles
It’s never easy going up against the defending champs, especially under the primetime lights. But this isn’t the same Eagles team that hoisted the Lombardi. Right now, Philly’s offense is sputtering, and their run defense hasn’t exactly been a brick wall.
That opens the door for the Chargers' ground game to take center stage. Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal have formed a thunder-and-lightning combo that’s capable of wearing down even the most physical front sevens. If those two can get going early, it’ll force the Eagles to respect the run - and that’s when Justin Herbert can go to work.
Philadelphia still has the names, the pedigree, and the firepower to flip a game in a heartbeat. But if the Chargers stick to their identity, control the tempo, and avoid costly mistakes, this is a very winnable game. Pulling this off would push them to 9-4 and send a clear message to the rest of the AFC: the Bolts are for real.
Win No. 2 - Week 15 at Chiefs
Beating Kansas City once in a season is tough. Sweeping them?
That’s borderline unheard of in the Mahomes era. But this version of the Chiefs isn’t the same juggernaut we’ve grown used to.
Kansas City has been uncharacteristically inconsistent - especially on defense. They’ve struggled to get off the field in key moments, and teams have found success running right at them.
That plays right into the Chargers’ hands. If Hampton and Vidal can establish the run, it keeps Mahomes on the sideline and limits his opportunities to find rhythm.
And even when Mahomes is on the field, he hasn’t looked like his usual self. The magic is still there, but the consistency?
Not so much. The Chargers have already proven they can hang with the Chiefs.
This time, they’ve got a chance to do more than that - they can bury them.
To pull it off, the Chargers need to play clean, physical football. Win the trenches.
Control the clock. And let Herbert make the throws when it matters most.
Do that, and they could walk out of Arrowhead with a season-defining win.
Win No. 3 - Week 18 at Broncos
This one could come down to timing more than talent. By Week 18, Denver might have their playoff spot locked in - potentially as the 1- or 2-seed - and could opt to rest starters.
That’s not a given, of course. Division rivalries run deep, and if the Broncos have a chance to knock the Chargers out of playoff contention, they might take it.
Even if Denver plays it straight, this is still a game L.A. can take. Bo Nix has yet to beat the Chargers, and earlier this season, Herbert led a clutch drive to steal a win from the Broncos late.
That kind of poise matters in December football. And if it comes down to a must-win game with playoff implications, you’d rather have the quarterback who’s been there before.
Herbert has already shown he can deliver in the clutch. If the Chargers need one more win to punch their ticket, don’t be surprised if he’s the one to slam the door shut.
What About the Other Two?
Can the Chargers beat Dallas? Sure.
Can they beat Houston? Absolutely.
But those matchups are tougher to forecast. Dallas has the kind of defense that can wreck a game plan, and Houston’s young core is playing with nothing to lose - and that makes them dangerous.
Still, if the Chargers take care of business in the three games above, they won’t need to sweat those final outcomes. Eleven wins likely gets them in, and maybe even gives them some momentum heading into January.
The table is set. Now it’s up to the Chargers to finish the job.