Los Angeles Chargers: AFC playoff chances heading into Week 16
By Derek Snyder
The Los Angeles Chargers took a tough loss in Week 15 to the Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean their playoffs hopes are dead just yet.
The Los Angeles Chargers playoff hopes definitely took a huge hit when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15, but by no means is their season over. If they can win their last two games, and get some help along the way, the Bolts could find themselves as one of the AFC’s two Wild Card teams come January.
According to Five Thirty Eight, the Chargers currently have a 14 percent chance of making the AFC playoffs, with two games remaining against the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders. Not to mention, they also are giving the Bolts a four-percent chance of winning the AFC West.
While the odds are definitely not in Los Angeles’ favor, they still have a chance to sneak into the postseason if the Titans, Ravens and Bills struggle in Week 16 and 17.
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Just looking at the schedules of those three squads, it looks like the Chargers best chance rests on the shoulders of the Titans and Bills. Tennessee faces the Rams and Jaguars in Nashville, while Buffalo has two road games against the Patriots and Dolphins.
Again, every one of these playoff opportunities assume that Los Angeles will beat both the Jets and Raiders over the next two weekends. If they drop even one of those, their chances of making the postseason are over. No pressure.
With that said, I may be a little optimistic, but the door is open for the Bolts, especially with how the Bills and Titans have been playing. However, Chargers fans have to become big fans of the Rams and Jaguars these next two weekends in order to see their favorite team contend for a title in 2017.
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If the Titans get that ninth win of the year against one of their two remaining opponents, Los Angeles’ shot of playing postseason football this year will fade away. Don’t lost hope Chargers fans, as these next two weekends are going to cause some major shuffling within the standings.