The Chargers will be playing in the postseason in January.
The Bolts secured a playoff berth Saturday and will either be the fifth or sixth seed in the AFC.
While that gets sorted out this week, the Bolts have reason to celebrate being in the dance.
With that in mind, here are five key reasons why the Chargers are headed to the postseason:
1. The Jim Harbaugh Effect
Jim Harbaugh has done it again.
The Chargers Head Coach has engineered turnarounds at every place he's coached at in college or the NFL.
Harbaugh produced another one this season as he took a five-win team and (at least) doubled that with the Bolts.
Harbaugh changed the culture from Day 1 after arriving, getting everyone to buy into him while also not being afraid to put the work in himself.
Credit also goes to Harbaugh's staff, whether that's the trio of coordinators (Greg Roman, Jesse Minter and Ryan Ficken), plus the plethora of other position and assistant coaches.
For the most part, many of the key pieces on the roster this season are the same as they were a year ago.
But Chargers players have routinely talked about how well prepared they are and how coaches repeatedly stress attention to detail in practice and meetings.
Add it all up and you get yet another masterful turnaround from Harbaugh, who is quick to deflect credit but has been a driving force from the moment he arrived in Los Angeles.
2. Justin Herbert's leadership
Hi, haaaave you met 'Football Justin?'"
In case you missed it, Justin Herbert has a bit of an alter ego when he steps on the football field.
The Chargers quarterback, who can sometimes be a bit reserved in the locker room, transforms into an alpha, a leader and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Herbert may not have the gaudy stats he's put up in previous seasons, but he helped guide the Bolts to the playoffs with his unwavering and unquestioned leadership.
You want toughness? Herbert hasn't missed a game this season despite battling through multiple injuries.
You want fire? Look no further than Herbert's energy-infusing scramble against the Saints in Week 8.
You want moxie? It was Herbert who willed the Bolts to a comeback with over Denver in primetime in Week 16.
All while continuing to make one dazzling throw after another. Herbert's overall Pro Football Focus grade of 90.5 ranks third among all quarterbacks with at least 500 dropbacks this season and would be the highest mark of his career.
Simply put, No. 10 is the face of the franchise for a reason.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 17 matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium
3. A collective defensive effort
When the AFC Pro Bowl roster is announced, don't be surprised if there's only one or two Chargers defensive players who make the cut.
Sure, the Bolts have star power in Khalil Mack and Derwin James, Jr. Poona Ford is having a career year. And Daiyan Henley and Tarheeb Still are rising stars.
But on the whole, the Chargers defense feels like a weekly collective effort in which everyone steps up to make plays when they are needed.
Players say the same thing in the locker room after wins, too, with the common refrain being about how communication, consistency and teamwork is the formula for success.
Not bad for a group that leads the league in points allowed per game (17.6).
Minter, in his first year as the Chargers Defensive Coordinator, has pushed all the right buttons, too, despite some shuffling throughout the lineup.
Entering Week 18, the Chargers have 23 players who have played at least 100 defensive snaps this season.
Even so, the Bolts rank sixth in defensive EPA per play (-0.053) and are eighth in success rate allowed (42.0 percent).
A year ago, the Chargers ranked in the bottom third of the league in those same metrics.
4. A dynamic rookie class
Take a bow, Joe Hortiz.
The hypothetical goal for each team's draft class is to find two starters plus a handful of key depth players.
The Chargers General Manager surpassed that expectation as he seemingly found four starters right away from the Bolts 2024 rookie class.
There's right tackle Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick who looks like a stud up front. Alt currently ranks 15th with a PFF grade of 78.5 among all tackles with at least 600 snaps.
There's Ladd McConkey, the No. 34 overall pick, who just set single-season rookie records for both catches and yards. McConkey ranks 11th with a PFF grade of 79.7 among wide receivers with at least 100 targets this year,
Rookie fifth-round picks Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart have also been revelations in the secondary. Still leads the team with four interceptions while Hart has brought a physical presence on the boundary. Both players look like future stars.
Overall, five rookies have played in double-digit games, and Kimani Vidal can make it six in that group Sunday.
The Chargers decided to churn over their roster and get younger this offseason. Hortiz and his staff came up big with impactful rookies for both the short and long term.
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
Take a look back at the Chargers Week 17 matchup with the Patriots in monochrome!
5. Taking care of business
As mentioned above, the Bolts won just five games in 2023, which meant playing a last-place schedule this season.
And while many pundits huffed and puffed at the strength of schedule, the Bolts simply took of business to ensure their playoff spot.
As it stands now, the Chargers have played six teams — Patriots, Titans, Browns, Panthers, Raiders and Saints — scheduled to pick in the top 10 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bolts beat each of them by double digits.
And the combined point differential in those six wins was 113 points, good for roughly 18 points per game.
There are no easy wins in the NFL and you can only play who's on your schedule.
But don't fault the Chargers for beating up on the teams they needed to in order to secure a playoff spot.
