Beat the Raiders next week and they're in. Good win today against a
Denver defense missing several players.

Herbert set a new Chargers team record for most passing TDs in a season
with 35, besting Rivers' 34. As one of the announcers noted, he did it
in 16 games, so no asterisk is required.

According to one of the Chargers' beat writers, Herbert is the sixth
player in history to have 35 passing touchdowns in a season before
turning 24.

The only injury of note for the Chargers was Corey Linsley, whose back
tightened up. Staley says he saw him after the game and Linsley “seems
to be doing well.”

Mike Williams surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season for the
second time in his career.

Herbert has reached 800 career completions in his 31st game — faster
than any player in history

Keenan Allen now has four 100-catch seasons and is the 10th player ever
to do so.

--Robin

On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 6:46:20 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> Beat the Raiders next week and they're in. Good win today against a
> Denver defense missing several players.
>
> Herbert set a new Chargers team record for most passing TDs in a season
> with 35, besting Rivers' 34. As one of the announcers noted, he did it
> in 16 games, so no asterisk is required.
>
> According to one of the Chargers' beat writers, Herbert is the sixth
> player in history to have 35 passing touchdowns in a season before
> turning 24.
>
> The only injury of note for the Chargers was Corey Linsley, whose back
> tightened up. Staley says he saw him after the game and Linsley “seems
> to be doing well.”
>
> Mike Williams surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season for the
> second time in his career.
>
> Herbert has reached 800 career completions in his 31st game — faster
> than any player in history
>
> Keenan Allen now has four 100-catch seasons and is the 10th player ever
> to do so.
>
> --Robin

Thanks to the Rams and Titans for beating the Ravens and Dolphins, putting the Chargers back in control of their own destiny. The game against the Raiders has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.

Interestingly, had the Colts beaten the Raiders today and all other results come out the same, there was a scenario where the Chargers could have gotten in even with a loss next week - but that’s a moot point and the Chargers are in only with a win (I guess a tie would work as well as they would have a 1-0-1 record in the head to head tiebreaker).

Michael

phlash74 wrote:
> On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 6:46:20 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
>> Beat the Raiders next week and they're in. Good win today against a
>> Denver defense missing several players.
>>
>> Herbert set a new Chargers team record for most passing TDs in a season
>> with 35, besting Rivers' 34. As one of the announcers noted, he did it
>> in 16 games, so no asterisk is required.
>>
>> According to one of the Chargers' beat writers, Herbert is the sixth
>> player in history to have 35 passing touchdowns in a season before
>> turning 24.
>>
>> The only injury of note for the Chargers was Corey Linsley, whose back
>> tightened up. Staley says he saw him after the game and Linsley “seems
>> to be doing well.”
>>
>> Mike Williams surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season for the
>> second time in his career.
>>
>> Herbert has reached 800 career completions in his 31st game — faster
>> than any player in history
>>
>> Keenan Allen now has four 100-catch seasons and is the 10th player ever
>> to do so.
>>
>> --Robin
>
> Thanks to the Rams and Titans for beating the Ravens and Dolphins, putting the Chargers back in control of their own destiny. The game against the Raiders has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
>
> Interestingly, had the Colts beaten the Raiders today and all other results come out the same, there was a scenario where the Chargers could have gotten in even with a loss next week - but that’s a moot point and the Chargers are in only with a win (I guess a tie would work as well as they would have a 1-0-1 record in the head to head tiebreaker).
>
> Michael
>

Yes, the game is 5:20 pm PT/ 8:20 pm ET on NBC. Here's the NFL's
announcement:

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-week-18-saturday-games-sunday-nighter

Also two games on Saturday:

the Kansas City Chiefs will play at the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET
(on ESPN/ABC)

the Dallas Cowboys will play at the Philadelphia Eagles (on ESPN/ABC) at
8:15 p.m. ET.

If the Colts lose, both the Chargers and the Raiders would get in with a
tie.

--Robin

On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 10:23:20 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> phlash74 wrote:
> > Thanks to the Rams and Titans for beating the Ravens and Dolphins, putting the Chargers back in control of their own destiny. The game against the Raiders has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
> >
> > Interestingly, had the Colts beaten the Raiders today and all other results come out the same, there was a scenario where the Chargers could have gotten in even with a loss next week - but that’s a moot point and the Chargers are in only with a win (I guess a tie would work as well as they would have a 1-0-1 record in the head to head tiebreaker).
> >
> > Michael
> >
> Yes, the game is 5:20 pm PT/ 8:20 pm ET on NBC. Here's the NFL's
> announcement:
>
> https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-week-18-saturday-games-sunday-nighter
>
> Also two games on Saturday:
>
> the Kansas City Chiefs will play at the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET
> (on ESPN/ABC)
>
> the Dallas Cowboys will play at the Philadelphia Eagles (on ESPN/ABC) at
> 8:15 p.m. ET.
>
>
> If the Colts lose, both the Chargers and the Raiders would get in with a
> tie.
>
> --Robin

One more playoff scenario: the Raiders clinch a berth even before the game is played if the Colts and Steelers both lose (the Chargers would still need a win or tie due to Indy having a better conference record). NBC must be rooting hard for Indy so that the game becomes strictly win or go home for both teams.

Michael

phlash74 wrote:
> On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 10:23:20 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
>> phlash74 wrote:
>>> Thanks to the Rams and Titans for beating the Ravens and Dolphins, putting the Chargers back in control of their own destiny. The game against the Raiders has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
>>>
>>> Interestingly, had the Colts beaten the Raiders today and all other results come out the same, there was a scenario where the Chargers could have gotten in even with a loss next week - but that’s a moot point and the Chargers are in only with a win (I guess a tie would work as well as they would have a 1-0-1 record in the head to head tiebreaker).
>>>
>>> Michael
>>>
>> Yes, the game is 5:20 pm PT/ 8:20 pm ET on NBC. Here's the NFL's
>> announcement:
>>
>> https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-week-18-saturday-games-sunday-nighter
>>
>> Also two games on Saturday:
>>
>> the Kansas City Chiefs will play at the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET
>> (on ESPN/ABC)
>>
>> the Dallas Cowboys will play at the Philadelphia Eagles (on ESPN/ABC) at
>> 8:15 p.m. ET.
>>
>>
>> If the Colts lose, both the Chargers and the Raiders would get in with a
>> tie.
>>
>> --Robin
>
> One more playoff scenario: the Raiders clinch a berth even before the game is played if the Colts and Steelers both lose (the Chargers would still need a win or tie due to Indy having a better conference record). NBC must be rooting hard for Indy so that the game becomes strictly win or go home for both teams.
>
> Michael
>

That's interesting. I didn't realize that there was a way for the
Raiders to get in without winning this game. If that were to happen,
they might rest players.

--Robin

On Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 1:18:32 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> phlash74 wrote:
> > On Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 10:23:20 PM UTC-8, Robin Miller wrote:
> >> phlash74 wrote:
> >>> Thanks to the Rams and Titans for beating the Ravens and Dolphins, putting the Chargers back in control of their own destiny. The game against the Raiders has been flexed to Sunday Night Football.
> >>>
> >>> Interestingly, had the Colts beaten the Raiders today and all other results come out the same, there was a scenario where the Chargers could have gotten in even with a loss next week - but that’s a moot point and the Chargers are in only with a win (I guess a tie would work as well as they would have a 1-0-1 record in the head to head tiebreaker).
> >>>
> >>> Michael
> >>>
> >> Yes, the game is 5:20 pm PT/ 8:20 pm ET on NBC. Here's the NFL's
> >> announcement:
> >>
> >> https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-week-18-saturday-games-sunday-nighter
> >>
> >> Also two games on Saturday:
> >>
> >> the Kansas City Chiefs will play at the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET
> >> (on ESPN/ABC)
> >>
> >> the Dallas Cowboys will play at the Philadelphia Eagles (on ESPN/ABC) at
> >> 8:15 p.m. ET.
> >>
> >>
> >> If the Colts lose, both the Chargers and the Raiders would get in with a
> >> tie.
> >>
> >> --Robin
> >
> > One more playoff scenario: the Raiders clinch a berth even before the game is played if the Colts and Steelers both lose (the Chargers would still need a win or tie due to Indy having a better conference record). NBC must be rooting hard for Indy so that the game becomes strictly win or go home for both teams.
> >
> > Michael
> >
> That's interesting. I didn't realize that there was a way for the
> Raiders to get in without winning this game. If that were to happen,
> they might rest players.
>
> --Robin

That would be nice but unlikely because they would have about 4 hours notice (so would have prepped the starters and not the backups to play) and also losing to the Chargers would make them the 7th seed and likely a matchup with the Chiefs who have dominated them twice this season. But if the Raiders have clinched already and the Chargers take a lead into the second half they might pull the starters early.

Michael