The Chargers have spun it around…quite literally…5-1 in their last six games, taking their season record to 8-4. The only blemish? A tough loss to the Ravens. We’ve got to hand it to Jim Harbaugh. He has turned the team from survivors to contenders. But it’s way too early to call the shots. If anything, they’re staring down the Chiefs—a team already playoff-bound and on fire—that should give us the reality check as to what we can expect from them.

Facing a team this fierce, you’ve got to play all your cards. So, what does Harbaugh do? He pulls a page straight out of the playbook and adds Laviska Shenault Jr., the wide receiver Sanjay Lal (LA’s WR coach) once dubbed a “physical specimen.” Before we get to that, you might remember Laviska from the much-hyped 2020 drafts… Yup! Since then, he’s played Houdini with all his fans. But now, there’s a chance of revival…

Just three days after being waived by the Seahawks (thanks to some costly fumbles), Shenault found a new home in LA. Harbaugh’s squad added him to the practice squad, giving Justin Herbert another potential weapon.

At the same time, it’s a reunion of sorts—back in 2020 (when in Jacksonville), Lal praised Shenault’s immense potential, saying, “His ceiling is unlimited.” Now, with Lal on Harbaugh’s staff, it feels like the stars have aligned perfectly for Shenault to have a crack at it once again!

Plus, if we look at it, Shenault’s time in Seattle wasn’t all bad. C’mon, now! Sure, the fumbles were a problem. But the guy also had 16 returns for 459 yards, including a touchdown against the 49ers. That’s not nothing. And with the Chargers struggling to keep their wide receiver depth intact, Shenault could really make his presence count when it matters the most—against the Chiefs (if Harbaugh feels like it).

It’s also worth noting the Harbaugh family connection here. Laviska was coached by Jim’s son, Jay Harbaugh, during his time with the Seahawks. Coincidence? Probably not.

As the Chargers prepare for the Chiefs, this move feels like a calculated risk. Don’t expect Shenault to affect the game immediately because Jim clearly said one thing: He wants to give his team a fighting chance against Kansas.

Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are ready for the hot-red KC!

The Chiefs might be sitting with a playoff ticket in hand, but Jim Harbaugh isn’t exactly the type to back down from a challenge. Rodney Harrison nailed it when he said, “Jim loves to compete.” This weekend, Harbaugh’s Chargers face Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid on SNF. The stakes? A shot at proving they’re not just a feel-good story but legit contenders.

The Chargers under Harbaugh have looked pretty fresh. Remember, this was a team that went 5-12 last season. Fast forward to today, they’re 8-4! That’s no fluke. And when Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz set the tone early with bold promises, it wasn’t like a Jerry Jones’ curse waiting to strike. No, folks, leave that in Dallas!

Harbaugh vowed “multiple championships,” while Hortiz declared, “We’re not mailing in a season.” So far, so good. But now, with the Chiefs in their sights, the Chargers have a chance to turn those promises into something tangible.

Of course, history hasn’t been kind to the Chargers in this rivalry. Since drafting Justin Herbert, they’ve lost six of nine matchups against KC, with most games decided by a single score. The key difference? Pressure. But this time, it feels a lot different. And we aren’t even talking about their hunger for points, but the overall vibe seems like that of a winning team.

So, what’s the verdict? A win here could redefine the Chargers’ season. It’s not just about playoff seeding—it’s about proving they can go toe-to-toe with the AFC’s elite. As Harbaugh put it, “Big game. We’re in the playoff fight. Let’s get prepared and get ready to roll.” Whether they rise to the occasion or stumble again, Sunday will tell us a lot about the competitive ceiling of this Chargers squad.