The Baltimore Ravens could once again be at the center of someone else’s postseason planning, and this time it’s Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers doing the scheming.
With the AFC playoff picture coming into focus, Harbaugh made it clear the Chargers are eyeing the fifth seed to avoid a potential wild-card clash with Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
“We're playing to move up. We'd love to be in the fifth seed,” Harbaugh said. “That's where things stand for us. Plan is win.” Translation: the Chargers would prefer to face the AFC South champion Houston Texans instead of running into the Ravens, who just obliterated the Texans 31-2 on Christmas Day.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh: "We're playing to move up. We'd love to be in the 5th seed."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 30, 2024
"That's where things stand for us. Plan is win." pic.twitter.com/3f1iRpgUlF
Harbaugh’s not-so-subtle comments have sparked conversation, and let’s be honest—they don’t exactly scream confidence when it comes to a potential matchup with Baltimore. If the Chargers want to make a playoff run, they’ll need to find a way to avoid the Ravens’ ferocious defense and MVP-caliber quarterback Lamar Jackson for as long as possible.
Chargers' HC Jim Harbaugh clearly wants to avoid the Ravens in the NFL playoffs
Jim Harbaugh knows the stakes, and he isn’t shy about stating the obvious: Houston is a much easier matchup for Los Angeles than Baltimore or Pittsburgh. The Texans have been a great story this year, solidifying an AFC South title, but they’re not on the same level as the Ravens or even the Steelers.
Baltimore, in particular, is the nightmare scenario for Harbaugh. The Ravens are peaking at the right time, their defense is swarming, and Lamar Jackson is playing like he’s ready to add another MVP trophy to his shelf. Oh, and the Ravens already handled the Chargers this season.
However, the fifth seed presents a more challenging path to the AFC Championship. If the Chargers secure it, they will have to confront the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs if they progress. Harbaugh understands the math and recognizes the significance of taking the easiest route possible, especially for a Chargers team that has shown inconsistency at times.
But this angle comes with risks. Houston is now fully aware of how the Chargers view them—as the most beatable playoff team in the AFC. Whether Harbaugh’s comments fire up the Texans remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine Houston’s locker room isn’t taking notice.
The Chargers’ playoff seeding isn’t entirely in their hands. They’ll need a win against the Raiders and a Steelers loss to the Bengals to move up to the fifth seed. If Pittsburgh wins, the Chargers will be locked into the sixth seed, setting up a wild-card showdown with either Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
Harbaugh’s transparency is refreshing in a league full of coach-speak, but it could also backfire if the Chargers end up playing the Texans and find themselves on the wrong side of an upset. Either way, one thing is clear: the Baltimore Ravens are living rent-free in the minds of their AFC playoff rivals, and Harbaugh is already angling to avoid them.