Los Angeles Chargers must beat Oakland Raiders for shot at playoffs

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- After one more for the road, the Los Angeles Chargers have one last shot at the playoffs.

That comes Sunday when the Oakland Raiders roll into the StubHub Center to put a cap on the regular season. If the Chargers win that game, and other dominoes fall right, they make the playoffs.

Los Angeles is in such a position because it took care of business on Sunday against the New York Jets, 14-7. Coach Anthony Lynn called the win "ugly" but he sure wasn't apologizing for it.

Not with the Chargers, a club which started 0-4, climbing above the .500 mark. Not with the Chargers who can return to the postseason for the first time since 2013 if things go their direction.

"You're excited to have a chance," Philip Rivers said.

That chance is the Chargers winning on Sunday, the Ravens beating the Bengals and the Titans falling to the Jaguars.

The Chargers had a good Christmas as Lynn gave the players the day off. It was a long trip back from the East Coast and the squad will rally again on Wednesday for Sunday's showdown with the Raiders.

It should be quite a scene with the Raiders' reputation of taking over Chargers home games and that was long before they played in a 25,000-seat venue.

But the Chargers will take on the Raiders and their legions of fans, if it means it's a significant December game. Back in September, when the Chargers spit out four losses in three home games, such a statement would have caused some double-takes.

"We started off so slow," Casey Hayward said. "But we're still in it."

They are because their neighbors, the Rams, did them a solid by beating the Tennessee Titans. That along with the Chargers getting past the Jets has the Chargers perched were few thought was possible.