5 NFL playoff teams most likely to flame out in 2019

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the Los Angeles Chargers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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COSTA MESA, CA – MAY 28: Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks on during the Los Angeles Chargers OTA on May 28, 2019, at the Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Los Angeles Chargers

The AFC West was the most top-heavy division in football last season, featuring two 12 win teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers lost the division title on a tiebreaker, winning on the road in the first round before getting run off the field by the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots.

It’s never easy for the Chargers to do well at home due to their stadium situation, which is the worst in the league and is often filled with visiting fans instead of their own. To make matters worse, the Chargers have both injury and contract concerns plaguing their roster.

On the injury front, the Chargers are already dealing the absence of left tackle Russell Okung, who is out after suffering a pulmonary embolism last month. That has led to a ton of reshuffling along the offensive line, which was a key element of the Chargers’ success last season.

The Chargers are also minus star running back Melvin Gordon, who is in the midst of a holdout as he wants a new contract. Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler are splitting reps at the running back spot while Gordon sits out, but if the holdout drags into the regular season it could be a big loss for Los Angeles.

There is also the fact that the Chargers won 12 games a year ago, which is great but unlikely to be duplicated given the randomness of football. The AFC appears to be more competitive this year, with teams like the Browns, Steelers, Jets and Raiders potentially entering the wild card hunt, so a slight step back could leave the Chargers just shy of a return to the postseason.

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