"Harbaugh's fingerprints are all over this team already. But after the Chargers beat the rival Broncos in a matchup with major wild-card implications, it's clear it's the combination of quarterback and coach that makes the Bolts a nightmare matchup as the AFC's (likely) sixth seed."

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said he could tell from the noise his teammates made from neighboring meeting rooms on Saturday “that good things were happening.” Los Angeles needed the Steelers to lose to the Bengals that night to have a shot at the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Chargers beat the New England Patriots 40-7 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2022, which will be their third postseason appearance in 11 seasons.