HOUSTON — The road to get here was long and filled with unexpected twists and turns and rises and dips. The Chargers got here, though, guided by forces that propelled them back to the AFC wild-card round after a one year absence and after changes big and small on the field and off.
For those who were with the Chargers two years ago, their shot at redemption has arrived, not that many still talk about the humiliation of their 31-30 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on that chilly Florida night. They say the past is in the past, if they say anything at all.
For those who weren’t with the Chargers for their epic collapse on Jan. 14, 2023, when they failed to protect a 27-point second-quarter lead, they believe what lies ahead will affirm their hard work in growing a new, winning culture. They say the past is in the past, if they say anything at all.
The fifth-seeded Chargers (11-6) face the fourth-seeded Houston Texans (10-7) in an AFC wild-card game on Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium. The Chargers were second in the AFC West behind the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans were first in the AFC South.
Oddsmakers have made the Chargers slight favorites to win and advance.
“You’re one of 14 teams still playing, which is a great accomplishment, but now that you’re here, you want to keep playing,” said Jesse Minter, who is in his first season as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. “You’re hungry for more. The guys have talked a lot about taking advantage of this group of guys we have right now.
“The group is always going to be different. It’s never the same year to year. So, let’s take advantage of what we have right now. Put our best stuff out there. Shoot our shot and see if that’s good enough.”
Flipping back through the calendar, the Chargers believed they had established a winning culture for the 2022 season, one that sent them to the playoffs for only the second time since they moved to Los Angeles from San Diego before the 2017 season. They went 10-7 and were second in the AFC West.
Things went haywire in Jacksonville. They failed to move the ball and failed to stop the Jaguars, whose rally from a 27-0 deficit ranked as the third-largest in playoff history. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa recalled the second half as “just a hectic game” as the Chargers’ momentum escaped their grasp.
Bosa lost his composure, twice drawing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
“I feel I’ve matured since that time and I know I won’t do anything stupid like that to affect our chances of winning,” he said. “It’s in the past. I’ve learned what I could from it and we, obviously, don’t want that feeling again. It’s in the past. Shoot, I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. That game is long gone.”
One feeling lingers, though.
“We’re playing for our lives out there,” Bosa said.
Or as outside linebacker Khalil Mack put it, “By any means necessary.”
Jim Harbaugh has instilled a different attitude, a different mindset in the Chargers since he replaced Brandon Staley as coach. Joe Hortiz added different types of players since replacing Tom Telesco as general manager. Both have demanded a laser-like focus on what matters most.
“This team is very talented,” said running back J.K. Dobbins, in his first season with the Chargers after signing as a free agent during the offseason. “We have all the pieces we need to go on a run. We have a great defense. We have the best defense. Offense is clicking. We’ve got weapons outside. We can run the ball. We can do a lot. I think we are built to go far in these playoffs.”
The mental game will be every bit as important as the physical one, though.
“We’ve all kind of had the same message to each other, not just Jim but everyone together,” Dobbins said. “It’s to stay focused. Keep your mind on the mission ahead and good things will happen … Once you get into the playoffs, you have to play the best. You have to beat the best to be the best. It’s something I would love to do. I would love to go on a great run in these playoffs and, hopefully, get a ring.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Chargers activated cornerback Eli Apple and wide receiver Simi Fehoko from injured reserve and placed defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor on injured reserve. Apple was sidelined by a hamstring injury and Fehoko was out because of an elbow injury. Taylor suffered a rib injury.
CHARGERS (11-6) at TEXANS (10-7)
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m. PT
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 2)/98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)