This time a week ago, the Chargers were set to face the Raiders in Las Vegas with something to play for. They had already clinched a playoff spot, but a win or a loss would decide whether they got the fifth or sixth seed.
The lower seed would have meant the headed to Baltimore to face the three seed Ravens. The higher seed would mean a trip to Houston to face the four seed Texans.
That was enough for them to go out and do what they had to do to win the game and ensure they got the highest seed possible. As the Texans looked like a much more favorable matchup.
In the end, it didn’t matter one bit.
Saturday the Chargers got beaten soundly and booted out of the playoffs. The Texans absolutely swatted them in a 32-12 whooping.
A pick six in the third quarter blew things open, giving the Texans a 20-6 lead. And it was 23-6 in the fourth quarter before the Chargers even scored their first touchdown.
Justin Herbert had a horrendous game, throwing one touchdown to four interceptions. Meanwhile the combo of JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards combined average just three yards per carry on 16 carries.
This is flipped from how the Chargers beat the Raiders to close out the season. With the Chargers scoring on seven straight drives, including three touchdowns to put the game away at 34-13 late in the fourth. An almost identical flipped score.
I guess that just shows you the talent gap between the Raiders and these playoff teams this season.