Are the players feeling focused and understand this will be one of the better chances of making a Super Bowl? (Anthony via Twitter)

A few things here with Anthony’s question.

First, the AFC does feel a bit different this year considering the Chiefs aren’t in the dance. That means no Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs.

Joe Burrow isn’t in the mix either, and there’s a chance Lamar Jackson doesn’t get to play past Week 18 either.

But while the AFC feels pretty wide open, I don’t think the Chargers or anyone else is thinking this will be a cake walk to a Super Bowl appearance.

Heck, the Chargers Wild Card opponent isn’t even set yet and might not even be determined until Sunday night.

The Bolts focus right now is on Week 18 against the Broncos. The Wild Card Round will get all the attention as soon as Sunday afternoon’s game in Denver is complete.

“There’s no way to predict,” Harbaugh said Monday. “We’re going on the road [in the] first round, all potential teams would be good. We’ll get ourselves ready for that.

“Play the game, win the game then find out where we’re going, that’s the objective,” Harbaugh added.

Murphy’s law. What can go wrong DID go wrong. Not just with the Texans game but with injuries all year. 11 wins. How do people not have Harbaugh in Coach of the Year and Herbert MVP at LEAST in the conversation? (I’m fine with others winning it, btw). (JT via Twitter)

Was Saturday’s loss to the Texans frustrating? Yes.

But here’s why I came away feeling good about the Chargers.

There were numerous uncharacteristic mistakes by the Bolts that they normally don’t make: the defense gave up two explosive touchdowns, the offense sputtered in the red zone and both Cameron Dicker and JK Scott had off days.

And the Chargers still nearly won against a really good Houston team.

The Bolts now know how small the margin for error is against a playoff-type team, and you can be players and coaches will be locked in once the actual postseason starts.

Daiyan Henley said as much after Week 17.

“I feel like we battled. But although we battled, we all just didn’t do enough right. You know, it’s a team sport,” Henley said. “We’ve got to do more. As much as we hate to lose, I’d rather do it now than later. Now it’s time to get on a run and let’s go.”

We’ll see who the Chargers end up drawing in the Wild Card Round. But I think the Bolts have the right formula — great head coach and quarterback, stingy defense, timely offense and strong special teams — to be a scary team in January.