Coming into the 2022 NFL season, the Chargers were expected to be a potential contender in the AFC.
Los Angeles spent a lot of money to upgrade their roster during the 2022 offseason. That was especially true on defense, where the acquisitions of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson were supposed to add more elite-level talent to their defense.
However, the same old problems have plagued the Chargers at times this season. They have dealt with countless injuries to key players — including Joey Bosa, J.C. Jackson, Rashawn Slater, Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, to name a handful — while the team's run defense has continued to be its kryptonite.
As such, the Chargers were unable to truly challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West title.
Still, Los Angeles is trending toward claiming a wild-card berth in the crowded AFC, as the team has gotten healthier as the season has gone on. Now, the Chargers just have to make sure they take care of business as the 2022 NFL season comes to a close.
Just how good are the Chargers' playoff chances? Here's a breakdown of what they'll need to make it into the playoff field and be granted a chance to win a postseason game for the first time since 2019.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 16
Where do the Chargers stand in the AFC playoff picture?
The Chargers are currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture. They have a record of 8-6, which is a half-game ahead of the No. 7-seed Dolphins among AFC teams.
What playoff tiebreakers are in the Chargers' favor?
The Chargers own head-to-head tiebreakers against the Titans and Dolphins that should prove beneficial to them as the season ends. The one over the Dolphins will be particularly important, as those two have the same record and neither has a chance to win their division.
Elsewhere, the Chargers have just a 2-3 division record, which trails the Dolphins, Patriots and Jaguars — against who they have lost head-to-head — among teams battling for wild-card positioning. The best they can finish in that category is 3-3. That would obviously help their standing in the wild-card race.
Los Angeles has one of the better conference records among teams in the wild-card race at 6-4. That's tied with the Ravens, Dolphins and Jaguars for the second-best mark among teams in the wild-card race. The Bengals have the best mark at 7-3.
So, Los Angeles has possession of some key tiebreakers and seems to be within striking distance of some others. As such, the Chargers seem well-positioned in the wild-card race and should be in it to the very end — if they don't clinch a playoff berth before Week 18.
What games are left on the Chargers' schedule?
The Chargers have three games left on their schedule, and none should be particularly difficult. They are playing the Colts on the road on "Monday Night Football" in Week 16 before going back to SoFi Stadium to face the Rams in Week 17. Then, they close the season playing in Denver as part of a division rivalry game with the Broncos.
Los Angeles' remaining opponents had a combined record of 12-29-1 entering Week 16, good for a winning percentage of just .298. Comparatively, the Chargers have faced a .475 strength of schedule thus far in 2022, so they could have a chance to close the season on a 3-0 stretch.
How good are the Chargers' wild-card chances now?
The Chargers seem to have a good chance of earning a wild-card berth in 2022. They are in front of most o the teams chasing wild-card spots, save for the Bengals and Ravens. Those two play in Week 18, so it's possible that if all goes well for the Chargers, they could earn the No. 5 seed by leapfrogging the loser of that contest in the standings.
Los Angeles had a chance to wrap up a wild-card spot in Week 16. It still does have the ability to do that with a win over the Colts, but a victory would position it for another clinching scenario in Week 17. And it would, effectively, put them one win away from qualifying for the postseason.
All told, it looks like the Chargers will make the wild card given their weaker schedule and the fact that their competition for playoff berths is being winnowed out. They just need to avoid another late-season upset, a fate they couldn't avoid against the Texans last year.
