There is a very real chance the Los Angeles Chargers go 13-3 and get the 5th seed. That would be tied for the best wild-card team ever with the Tennessee Titans. Even though they triumphed over the Chiefs on Thursday Night, they still could be stuck traveling somewhere on the first week of wild-card weekend.
Despite their gutsy comeback victory over the Chiefs, the Chargers find themselves no better than where they were before. They have the same record as the Chiefs, at 10-3, but a bad loss against the Broncos a few weeks ago might have cost them the top seed. Now, the Chiefs hold a division tiebreaker over the Chargers, as they have only lost once within the AFC West.
For the Chargers to get the 1st seed, they would need another Chiefs loss. The Chiefs are playing the Seahawks in Seattle and then hosting the Raiders. The only real possibility there is against the Seahawks. Russell Wilson has been hot of late, and if he can continue, the Seahawks might pull off the upset. The Seahawks defense is not at its Legion of Boom level, it has a very strong defense. The extreme volume of CenturyLink Field also might contribute to a Chiefs loss.
Not only do the Chiefs have to lose, but the Chargers also have to win out. They have a relatively tough schedule coming up, as they play both the Ravens and the Broncos, who they already have lost to. A loss would all but eliminate the Chargers for the AFC West crown.
In reality, home-field advantage for the Chargers might not actually be that helpful. Their stadium only holds about 25,000 people, and it barely gets filled up. However, the prospect of avoiding a loud crowd in the playoffs like Arrowhead or Gillette gives the Chargers a bit more of an incentive for the 1st seed.
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