Chargers confident in AFC wild-card playoff return

The Chargers have been here before. Exactly one year ago, to be precise.

They had 11 regular-season victories going into their AFC wild-card game, a game they appeared to have set up against an opponent they seemed capable of defeating and moving on to the next round, to a deeper and more fulfilling playoff run in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as their coach.

Jan. 11, 2025, proved to be the end of the line, though.

The Chargers’ 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans was one of those head-scratching...