The Chargers have plenty on their Christmas wish list. From an AFC West title to Justin Herbert’s first playoff win and improved health down the stretch, Los Angeles has a chance to turn holiday hopes into postseason reality.
The Los Angeles Chargers will face the Houston Texans on Saturday, but before kickoff, the team will be celebrating Christmas. Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have looked like a legitimate contender, which means Santa just might have a few presents lined up for Bolts fans this holiday season.
What could the Los Angeles Chargers be asking for this Christmas? Here are three possibilities.
An AFC West Division Title. The Chargers have long attempted to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC West. While they’ve finally managed to push past Kansas City, the Denver Broncos have slithered their way into first place. With two games remaining, however, the Chargers still have a clear path to claiming the division crown.
In fact, Los Angeles controls its own destiny. If the Chargers can win their final two games against the Texans and the Broncos, they will leapfrog Denver for first place thanks to tiebreakers. If Justin Herbert can lead victories over two dominant defenses, the Chargers would not only secure the AFC West title but also earn home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Justin Herbert’s First Playoff Win. Justin Herbert has been a frequent punching bag in the national media, largely due to his lack of postseason success. The star quarterback currently sits at 0–2 in playoff appearances, with both losses being particularly disappointing. Fair or not, that narrative won’t go away until Herbert finally delivers a playoff win.
Where the Chargers land in the standings will determine their first-round opponent. While fans may have preferences about who they’d like to face, the only thing that truly matters is winning. The Chargers’ current winning streak—one that includes victories over quality opponents—has restored confidence that Herbert can finally get both himself and the franchise over the playoff hump.
A Clean(ish) Bill of Health. The reality is that the Chargers will not be fully healthy this season. They lost starting left tackle Rashawn Slater before the year even began, and it appears unlikely that Joe Alt will return anytime soon. At this point, the best the Chargers can hope for is avoiding additional injuries.
Los Angeles will closely monitor the status of Kimani Vidal, Mekhi Becton, Jamaree Salyer and Benjamin St-Juste, all of whom were banged up in the win over the Cowboys. Getting even a few of those players back could make a significant difference down the stretch.
One encouraging sign is that Justin Herbert appears to be getting healthier. Playing through a broken finger on his left hand has clearly limited him in recent weeks, but his performance against Dallas was his best in quite some time. Herbert was decisive, aggressive and confident—throwing the ball all over the field and even taking part in a couple of tush pushes.
Final Thoughts
Christmas presents don’t guarantee postseason success, but the Chargers are positioned to receive exactly what they’ve been hoping for. A division title, a playoff breakthrough for Justin Herbert and improved health could make this holiday season one of the most memorable in franchise history. If Los Angeles can finish strong, Santa may be delivering more than just gifts—he could be delivering a legitimate Super Bowl contender.