EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers could have their AFC playoff seeding locked in before going to bed Saturday night in Las Vegas.
When it comes to Jim Harbaugh's plans for playing or resting his starters, he is keeping things close to the vest as usual.
“We're taking it one day at a time. As (safety) Derwin (James) said, 11 wins sounds better than 10,” Harbaugh said on Monday.
The Chargers (10-6) could have a chance at moving up to the fifth seed and a trip to Houston for the wild-card round if Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh on Saturday night.
If the Steelers win, the Bolts are locked into the sixth seed and a trip to the AFC North champion. That would be Baltimore — and a possible Harbaugh Bowl rematch — if the Ravens beat the Browns on Saturday afternoon. Baltimore opened as a 17 1/2 point favorite against Cleveland according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Harbaugh and the Chargers though will be hoping for a Bengals victory to make Sunday's regular-season finale against the Raiders meaningful.
“We're playing to move up,” Harbaugh said. “We'd love to be in the fifth seed. That gives you a chance to have a playoff game at home, even in the divisional round. That's where things stand for us, the plan for us is to win. That's been the mindset from the beginning.”
Even though the San Francisco 49ers had a playoff berth wrapped up going into the final week of the regular season in 2011, ‘12 and ’13, when Harbaugh was the coach, there was still something to play for.
The Niners needed a win in 2011 to secure a first-round bye. In 2012, they needed a victory over Arizona to wrap up the NFC West. A year later, it was a win over the Cardinals to keep their division title hopes alive.
Chargers fans still have bad memories from two years ago when then-coach Brandon Staley played his starters in the finale at Denver even though they were locked into the fifth seed. Wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a fracture in his back late in the first half of a 31-28 loss to the Broncos.
Williams wasn't available for the first-round game at Jacksonville, which the Chargers lost 31-30 after blowing a 27-point lead.
Harbaugh though did play the reserves, including quarterback Taylor Heinicke, for most of the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 40-7 victory at New England.
Harbaugh didn't answer if Heinicke would get additional snaps this week with an increased possibility of him seeing action.
One player who won't be available is safety Elijah Molden, who suffered a broken fibula during the second half of the Patriots game.
Molden, acquired from Tennessee on Aug. 29, started three games and was second on the team with three interceptions.
Harbaugh said it is possible Alohi Gilman, who is on injured reserve, could have his return to play window begin this week. Gilman has started 10 games but missed the past five because of a hamstring injury.
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Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins, left, celebrates his touchdown with head coach Jim Harbaugh during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh listens to a reporter's question during a news conference following an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Boston College teammates James Hagens and Ryan Leonard each scored twice and the defending champion United States routed Switzerland 7-2 on Thursday in the world junior hockey quarterfinals.
Boston University's Brandon Svoboda, Notre Dame's Danny Nelson and Denver's Zeev Buium also scored, Hampton Slukynsky of Western Michigan made 17 saves and BC’s Gabe Perreault had three assists.
“Overall, I thought we were ready to play and did what we needed to do against a good opponent in Switzerland,” said U.S. coach David Carle of Denver. “We’ll get ready now for the semifinals and look forward to the challenge in front of us.”
The Group A champion Americans will face Czechia — a 4-3 winner over Canada in the night game at Canadian Tire Centre — on Saturday. Group B winner Sweden will play Finland in the other semifinal.
Adam Jecho scored on a one-timer on a power play with 39.4 seconds left to lift Czechia past Canada. Bradly Nadeau had tied it for Canada with 4:18 remaining. Czechia got the late power play when Andrew Gibson was called for kneeing.
Petr Sikora, Jakub Stancl and Eduard Sale also scored for the Czechs in their second straight quarterfinal victory over Canada. Michael Hrabal made 29 saves.
Tanner Howe and Porter Martone added goals for Canada, and Carter George stopped 22 shots.
At TD Place, Sweden beat Latvia 3-2, and Finland topped Slovakia 5-3. David Edstrom, Zeb Forsfjall and Anton Wahlberg scored for Sweden. Jesse Nurmi had two goals and an assist for Finland, a 4-3 overtime winner over the United States in group play.
In the relegation game, Maxim Schafer scored twice to help Germany beat Kazakhstan 4-3. Germany secured a spot next season in the tournament, while Kazakhstan was demoted to the Division I Group A tournament.
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Czech Republic forward Eduard Sale (12) celebrates his goal against Canada during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Canada defenseman Tanner Molendyk (6) collides with Czech Republic forward Eduard Sale during the third periodof a quarterfinal match at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Czech Republic forward Eduard Sale (12) scores on Canada goalkeeper Carter George (30) during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Rasmus Kumpulainen (18) celebrates his goal with teammates Benjamin Rautianen (37) and Konsta Helenius (19) during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Slovakia goaltender Samuel Urban (30) makes a save from a shot by Finland forward Julius Miettinen (27) during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland goaltender Noa Vali (31) makes a save during first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match against Slovakia in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Arttu Alasiurua (29) falls to the ice as Slovakia forward Frantisek Dej (22) and teammate Roman Kukumberg (16) battle for the puck during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Finland forward Jesse Nurmi (24) celebrates his goal with teammates Mitja Jokinen (2) and Daniel Nieminen (7) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match against Slovakia in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Latvia defenseman Krisjanis Sarts (2) takes a shot on Team Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) during the first period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (25) tries to score on Team Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) as Latvia forward Davis Livsics (7) and defenseman Darels Uljanskis (15) defend during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
Team Sweden goaltender Melker Thelin (35) celebrates his team's win over Team Latvia with defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (4) and forward Felix Unger Sorum (16) after an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal match in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Brandon Svoboda (8) celebrates his goal with forward Austin Burnevik (23) and forward Max Plante (22) as Switzerland goaltender Christian Kirsch (1) looks on during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA defenseman Logan Hensler (3) reacts as he blocks a shot with his body during second period of a quarterfinal match against Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Brandon Svoboda, left, checks Switzerland forward Simon Meier (27) as USA forward Max Plante (22) skates with the puck during the third period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (30) stretches prior to the start of the third period of a quarterfinal match against Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Ryan Leonard (9) moves towards the net as Switzerland goaltender Christian Kirsch (1) keeps an eye on the puck and defenseman Nils Rhyn (14) defends the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
USA forward Danny Nelson (17) celebrates his goal as Switzerland forward Kimo Gruber (12) skates by during the first period of a quarterfinal match at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ottawa, Ontario Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)
