January ignites the Chargers' true challenge. With a healthy roster and MVP-level Herbert, can they finally conquer playoff pressure and prove their toughness?
The Los Angeles Chargers are likely headed for the seven seed in the AFC playoff picture, setting up a matchup with second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. The Chargers would head into Foxboro with the healthiest roster they’ve had all season, outside of the players who were never coming back regardless of circumstance.
The question is simple: can this Chargers team pass its first real test of toughness and maturity?
Yes, they’ve faced adversity. Plenty of it. But nothing truly compares to playoff football. Justin Herbert has had two playoff appearances so far, and they’ve gone about as poorly as a quarterback’s first two postseason games possibly could. This year, however, represents Herbert’s opportunity to finally quiet that narrative. He is playing MVP-level football given the circumstances surrounding this team all season. He won’t win the award, but the national media is finally starting to catch up to what Chargers fans who watch every week have known for a long time.
If fans are nervous heading into this matchup, that’s understandable. But if there was ever a Chargers team built to win a playoff game, it’s this one. Are they the most talented roster in the league? Not even close. But they are as tough as nails. This group has pushed through moments where it felt fair to question how much fight was left, and they’ve answered that question repeatedly.
The loss to Houston was painful, but it was not a loss rooted in a lack of toughness. The Chargers were not out-physicaled. They simply made too many mistakes to overcome. That matters when evaluating who this team actually is. In a likely matchup against New England, the Chargers will be more prepared, more rested and far more focused after nearly two full weeks to get ready for the biggest game they’ve played in years.
Everyone in the organization should understand what playoff football means in Los Angeles. It’s different here. The expectations are different. The pressure is heavier because the Chargers are always expected to fail. That reputation doesn’t disappear overnight, but it should fuel this team, not weigh it down.
This is not the same old Chargers. This team is battle tested. This team reflects Jim Harbaugh’s identity as a leader of men. Whatever happens in Denver next week is irrelevant. The real battle is just beginning.
The AFC should take the powder blues seriously. They’re not going down without a fight. Now we find out exactly what they’re made of.