Ranking Chargers’ potential wild-card opponents, from easiest to toughest

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Following the Chargers' (11-5) elimination from contention for the AFC West division title and subsequent slide to the no. 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture as a result of the 20-16 loss to the Texans (11-5) on Dec. 28, here are how we ranked the Bolts' potential wildcard opponents for the NFL playoffs fro easiest to hardest.

After Sunday's games, the AFC playoff picture would be as follows if the season were to have ended:

Current AFC playoff picture

No. 1 seed and first-round bye: Denver Broncos (13-3)

Wildcard Round:

Potential scenarios

The fifth seed could be up for grabs if Los Angeles beats Denver on Jan. 4 and the Texans lose to the Colts in their Week 18 matchup. Should the Bolts get the fifth seed, they would play on the road against the AFC North champion, either the Steelers or the Ravens.

However, if the Chargers lose to the Broncos and the Bils win over the Jets, the Bolts would slide all the way to the No. 7 seed. If that scenario were to occur, they would open the playoffs on the road against the New England Patriots.

If the Chargers, Bills, Patriots, and Texans all win their Week 18 games, the Bolts would maintain their current seeding and open the playoffs in Jacksonville.

Now on to which of the three potential opponents are deemed the hardest and the easiest for the Chargers:

Easiest: New England Patriots

The Patriots are an interesting opponent for the Chargers, as their record could mask what is, in fact, a bit of a fugazi.

While the Patriots are 13-3 overall, New England is 0-2 against teams with a winning percentage above .500. Although the NFL scheduling certainly benefited this statistic, it is still noteworthy.

On the field, the Chargers should view this matchup as the easiest to prepare for, in terms of identifying a concrete game plan and executing it.

Moderate: Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens

Probably the most beneficial matchup for the Chargers is a clash with whoever wins the AFC East between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh Steelers

If it is Pittsburgh, the Steelers will be stumbling into the playoffs after barely hanging on to a playoff spot, with a quarterback who is well past his expiration date leading the way.

Pittsburgh has been a very unpredictable offensive team over the past few weeks, as they can showcase a dynamic run game against the Lions, and then play down to their competition the very next week and lose to the Browns.

Defensively, the Steelers are a bit of a mystery at times. They boast the league's highest-paid defensive unit that can play up to their value against a quality opponent, but then completely "wet the bed" against an inferior foe.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens, on the other hand, would barely scrape into the playoffs after essentially "coming back from the dead."

Offensively, there is always the threat of Lamar Jackson, but he has been dealt with several inopportune injuries throughout the season. The biggest concern with Baltimore is how to contain Derrick Henry, who has reemerged from his early-season struggles to display his typical dominance on the ground game that made him a household name in years past.

Defensively, the typically sound Ravens unit is also a bit of a mystery this season. Unfortunately for them, they have developed a reputation for blowing double-digit leads, having lost several games after holding what should have been an insurmountable advantage. With that in mind, no opponent of theirs is "truly" out of the game.

If the Chargers face the Steelers or Ravens, it is truly a mystery bag in terms of the difficulty.

Hardest: Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs onto the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at EverBank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Not only have the Jaguars pummeled the Chargers in their Week 11 matchup, but Jacksonville is currently riding a seven-game winning streak, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing at an elite level of confidence (15 touchdowns and five interceptions on 250.6 passing yards per game in that span).

For the Chargers, this is a nightmare scenario as the Jaguars boast an aggressive defensive front that will certainly feast on the Bolts' weak offensive line.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Ranking Chargers’ potential wild-card opponents, from easiest to toughest

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