The Chargers have done the heavy lifting and now they can clinch an AFC wild-card berth without moving a muscle. Then again, it might be a big ask for the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins to lose their games Sunday while the Chargers watch from afar. If it doesn’t happen Sunday, if the Colts defeat the Tennessee Titans and the Dolphins beat the San Francisco 49ers, then the Chargers can handle their business with either a victory in Week 17 over the New England Patriots and/or a win in Week 18 over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chargers (9-6) put themselves in a position to clinch a spot in the postseason with a come-from-behind 34-27 victory Thursday night over the Denver Broncos (9-6). Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after quarterback Justin Herbert fashioned a signature win: In time, as the seasons pass, Herbert’s strike to a streaking Derius Davis for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter Thursday night might rank up there in franchise history with any miraculous throw from a bygone era from John Hadl or Dan Fouts or Stan Humphries or Philip Rivers. It was, without a doubt, one of the more remarkable touchdown passes Herbert has thrown in five seasons in the NFL, all with the Chargers.
The accuracy of his pass was one thing. The timing of his throw was another. The way he avoided pressure to deliver a dart was one more aspect.
“I wouldn’t argue with that,” Jim Harbaugh said when asked if that was the best pass he’d seen.
