The Chargers clinched the No. 5 seed with a win in the regular-season finale against the Raiders.
The Bolts will now travel to Houston, where they will take on the Texans in the Wild Card Round.
NFL analysts and publications have released their weekly power rankings. Take a look at where the Bolts are ranked as they enter the Wild Card Round.
No. 7: BR NFL Staff – Bleacher Report (Last Week: No. 9)
The Chargers offense looks different when running back J.K. Dobbins is healthy. He returned from injured reserve in Week 17, and Los Angeles racked up its second-most total yards in a game this season (428). With him leading the ground attack and Justin Herbert's budding connection with rookie wideout Ladd McConkey, the Chargers may be more than a one-and-done playoff team.
No. 7: Frank Schwab – Yahoo Sports (Last Week: No. 9)
There's a clear top three in the AFC. There's also a clear fourth-best team, and it's the Chargers. If Los Angeles can top a beatable Houston team, a Chargers-Chiefs divisional round game might be fun. What a job Jim Harbaugh has done this season.
No. 8: Vinnie Iyer – Sporting News (Last Week: No. 12)
Jim Harbaugh can flat-out coach, and when given a QB with Justin Herbert's loaded skill set, a boosted offensive line, and some strong defensive pieces, it will add up to immediate success. The Chargers broke out of a mini-slump with three consecutive victories to end the season with Herbert and the rushing attack fine-tuning at the ideal time. Jumping up to the top wild-card spot opens a wider door for them.
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 18 matchup with the Raiders in monochrome!
No. 8: Mike Florio – Pro Football Talk (Last Week: No. 9)
No. 9: Eric Edholm – NFL.com (Last Week: No. 9)
The Chargers got off to a sluggish offensive start against the Raiders, then were given a huge boost from Daiyan Henley's interception right before the half. Justin Herbert capitalized, with great performances from Quentin Johnston (in perhaps the best game of his career) and Ladd McConkey. Having those two receivers play the way they did down the stretch is a major lift for this offense, which hasn't quite been able to crank up the run game the way it did earlier in the season. The Bolts weathered two tough periods in 2024, twice losing three in four-game spans, but they enter the playoffs as a team absolutely capable of taking care of business against a weathered Texans squad on the road. Yes, the offensive line looms as a worry, but L.A. has more away victories (six) than Houston has home wins (five). After Round 1? It's anyone's guess, but the Chargers will have to elevate their game if they want to do more damage.
No. 10: Josh Kendall – The Athletic (Last Week: No. 10)
Harbaugh was out of NFL coaching for 10 years. Now he's back and the Chargers are in the playoffs. His .681 winning percentage is the second-best among active head coaches. Now the Chargers go to Houston to play the shaky Texans. Sunday's highlight was wide receiver Quentin Johnston's 13 catches for a career-high 186 yards.
No. 10: Conor Orr – Sports Illustrated (Last Week: No. 11)
The Texans are one of the best rush defenses in the NFL, but can the Chargers still play a ball-control game and win?
Check out the best shots from the Chargers Week 18 matchup against the Raiders!
No. 10: Diante Lee – The Ringer (Last Week: No. 11)
Quarterback Justin Herbert played at an MVP level in the closing month of the season, and the offense really got cooking once he was healthy enough to lead the way with early-down passes and a newfound confidence in his scrambling abilities.
There's also a much better defensive identity under coordinator Jesse Minter, and we finally got to watch safety Derwin James Jr. back in a role that gets the most out of his versatile skill set.
No. 10: Nate Davis – USA Today (Last Week: No. 11)
The Bolts have many of the attributes that can portend playoff success – toughness, discipline, capability to run the ball, plus a quarterback (Justin Herbert) who can easily take over a game yet will rarely lose one.
Clearly a team on the rise, the Chargers seem ahead of schedule in Year 1 under Harbaugh as they take aim at the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy.
No. 11: Pete Prisco – CBS Sports (Last Week: No. 11)
With Justin Herbert as quarterback, Jim Harbaugh as coach to go with a good defense, they could make a playoff run. It's been a successful first season for Harbaugh.