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EL SEGUNDO — If the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night in the regular-season finale for both teams, then the Chargers would be locked into the sixth-seeded spot in the AFC playoffs, setting up a wild-card matchup with the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens (presuming the Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns earlier Saturday).
If the Bengals defeat the Steelers, then the Chargers could jump to the fifth-seeded spot if they beat the Las Vegas Raiders in their regular-season finale on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, setting up a more favorable wild-card matchup with the fourth-seeded Houston Texans.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday he and the Chargers would “take it one day at a time,” which meant what exactly? Would he play his starters in either scenario, playing to win for the 11th time in 17 games in his first season as Chargers coach? Or would he rest key players if the seedings were settled?
“We’ll do what’s best for the team,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh also said, “We’re not locked into a seed. We’re playing to move up. We’d love to be the fifth seed. That gives you a chance to have a playoff game at home. It could even be in the divisional round at home and the championship game at home. That’s where things stand for us. The plan is to win.
“That’s been our mindset from the very beginning. Win the next game.”
The Chargers (10-6) clinched a wild-card berth with a 40-7 rout of the New England Patriots on Saturday. The Chargers cannot finish lower than the sixth seed, no matter whether they win, lose or draw against the Raiders (4-12). Wins by the Chargers and Bengals would vault the Chargers into fifth.
The Ravens (11-5) play the Cleveland Browns (3-13) on Saturday and would secure the AFC North title with a win (or a Steelers loss). Baltimore defeated the Chargers earlier this season, giving Coach John Harbaugh a 3-0 record against younger brother Jim. The Texans, who are 9-7 and locked into the fourth seed, face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
MOLDEN SIDELINED
Safety Elijah Molden suffered a broken fibula during the Chargers’ victory over the Patriots and is likely out for the rest of the season, Harbaugh said. Molden initially thought he suffered a bruised shin during a collision in the third quarter, but then realized it was more serious.
Molden’s absence for Sunday’s game against the Raiders and the playoffs to come will leave the Chargers’ shorthanded at a key position opposite Derwin James Jr. Alohi Gilman has been on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury suffered in the Chargers’ loss to the Ravens on Nov. 25.
Tony Jefferson could be a likely replacement for Molden, assuming the Chargers don’t open the window for Gilman’s return to the active roster from IR. Jefferson came out of retirement this season to join the Chargers after spending the 2023 season as part of the Ravens’ scouting department.
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