10 Insights: Chargers' Playoff Puzzle to be Solved Sunday

Dec 27, 2018 at 08:30 AM

Chris Hayre

TEAM REPORTER

Baltimore Ravens vs Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on Saturday, DEC 22, 2018 in Carson, CA. Final score: BAL 21 - LAC 10

Below are 10 quick-hitting insights entering the Chargers' Week 17 matchup against the Denver Broncos:

1) The Chargers can still grab the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye in the AFC Playoffs with a win in Denver and a Chiefs loss or tie to the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium.

2) If the Chiefs win, Los Angeles is locked into the No. 5 seed and could play any one of five teams: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Tennessee or New England. Here's the simplest path to playing at Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend: the Ravens beat the Browns, the Texans beat the Jaguars and the Patriots beat the Jets. Baltimore beat the Chargers 22-10 last Saturday.

3) Here's the most logical path to Los Angeles playing at Pittsburgh on Wild Card Weekend: the Steelers beat the Bengals and the Browns beat the Ravens. The Chargers defeated the Steelers 33-30 on the road in Week 13 after being down 23-7 at halftime.

4) Here's the most logical path to Los Angeles playing at Indianapolis or Tennessee on Wild Card Weekend: the Jaguars beat the Texans, the Ravens beat the Browns and the Patriots beat the Jets. Back in Week 7, the Chargers won 20-19 over the Titans in London. The Bolts haven't played in Indianapolis since 2016.

5) Here's the most logical path to Los Angeles playing New England on Wild Card Weekend: the Jets beat the Patriots, the Texans beat the Jaguars and the Ravens beat the Browns. The Chargers played in New England last season.

6) The Chargers are seeking their first win in Denver since Dec. 12, 2013. On that day, the Bolts beat the Broncos 27-20 behind two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers to Keenan Allen.

7) Including playoffs, tight end Virgil Green has played in 60 games at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Sunday will be No. 61 for the former Bronco – his first as a member of the Chargers.

8) Despite losing to Denver in Week 13, the Chargers dominated time of possession 37:49 to 22:11 – the most lopsided differential in any of their games this season.

9) Los Angeles hasn't lost two straight games all year, and not since Weeks 8 and 10 of the 2017 season (Week 9 was the bye week).

10) Rivers' 27-game streak of throwing at least one touchdown pass came to an end last Saturday night against the Ravens. In 27 career games against Denver (including playoffs), Rivers has thrown at least one touchdown in 24 of them.