The 2024 NFL season has officially reached its halfway point and the playoff picture in both conferences is starting to take shape. To the surprise of some, the LA Chargers are right in the middle of the AFC playoff picture despite all the hurdles the team has overcome.

Jim Harbaugh is a proven winner and he has proven that in his return to the NFL. The Chargers aren't just in the playoffs this year, they're one of the best teams fighting for a playoff spot. With half a season left to play, the sixth-seeded Chargers have a good chance.

Here's how the Bolts compare to the other six teams that are effectively on the AFC Wild Card list (within two games of a playoff spot).

6. Indianapolis Colts

Maybe it's unfair to the Indianapolis Colts considering they've beaten good teams and are in every single game, but it's hard to sell Shane Steichen's team as the AFC's best wild card team when they Can't even figure out the quarterback position.

Anthony Richardson's struggles paved the way for Joe Flacco, who looked like the Flacco of old on Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. As great as Flacco was last year, his fairytale story may be coming to an end.

Indy has the Bills, Jets and Lions in the next three weeks. The pendulum can swing one way or the other as the Colts either secure their spot as a playoff team or show their true colors as a contender.

5. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos earned a straight win against another team on this list, but are still the second-worst team on the rankings. While the Broncos look great when everything is going well, they have largely proven that they can't compete against real playoff teams.

The Chargers dominated the Broncos for an entire half, but Denver made the game seem closer with garbage-time touchdowns. Denver didn't have the same advantage against the Ravens in Week 9 because the Broncos suffered such a stunning loss.

Three of the Broncos' five wins came against teams competing for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That means something.

4. New York Jets

The Broncos beat the Jets earlier this season, but it really was a strange result. There was a heavy downpour in this game, and even then the Jets did everything they could to win the game.

If these two teams played each other ten times, the Jets would probably win seven of them. This lone result shouldn't put Denver ahead of New York in these power rankings.

As for the Jets, the 2024 season did not go as planned as the Jets were giving away games at a rapid pace. But a big win over the Houston Texans in Week 9 proved the Jets' worth may Beat playoff teams and potentially give the team some momentum going forward. However, if the Jets lose to the Arizona Cardinals next week, their playoff dreams could officially be over.

3.Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have also beaten the worst teams in the league, so ranking them two spots higher than the Broncos may seem counterintuitive. After all, every team the Bengals have beaten this season has two or fewer wins.

That being said, with small changes, Cincinnati could easily be several games better than the team. The Bengals lost to the Washington Commanders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Ravens by a total of nine points. If the Bengals were just 1-2 in those three games, they would be over .500. At 2-1 they would be in a playoff spot.

The Bengals may not have the best record in terms of wins and losses, but they have one of the best quarterbacks in all of sports. For this reason, they must be viewed as a threat in the AFC wildcard picture.

2. LA Chargers

The LA Chargers have one of the best quarterbacks in the game and a defense that finally supports him. Los Angeles is the only team in the NFL that hasn't allowed 20 points in a game this season, and that will likely remain the case when the Chargers play the Titans in Week 10.

It wasn't perfect, as early injuries to Justin Herbert derailed the offense. But when the Chargers are at their best, they seem to be one of the toughest teams in football to beat. Even the three teams that beat the Chargers this year had to play near-perfect games to do so.

If it weren't for Jalen Reagor's poor performance and fumble against the Cardinals, the Chargers would be 6-2 and receiving a lot more national attention. However, a 5-3 record isn't that enticing, so the Chargers will continue to be the sleeper team that no one wants to play against.

1. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have some really ugly losses on their record (namely against the Raiders and Browns), but are still the best team in the AFC wild card rankings. Best-case scenario, the Ravens are a bona fide Super Bowl contender with an MVP contender at the quarterback position.

Baltimore is not without its faults, however. The Ravens have one of the worst pass defenses in the league and have been exposed as a result in the past. This gap must be filled if the Ravens want to survive some of the elite quarterbacks playing in the AFC.

The Ravens could really go one of two ways. The team could get hot and run away with the AFC North after eventually usurping the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or the team's problems could come to light and the Ravens may have to fight tooth and nail to secure a playoff spot.