Welcome back to the Chargers Mailbag!

We'll run a Mailbag each week during the regular season and the playoffs. Send in submissions for the Mailbag on Twitter @EricLSmith or by email at eric.smith@chargers.nfl.com.

Off we go...

Do the Chargers have a realistic chance to make a deep playoff run? (Eddie via email)

Yes, there is zero doubt in my mind the Bolts can make a run.

Because I also believe every AFC team can string together two or three wins and be playing in late January.

Denver and Houston each boast elite defenses, New England might have the NFL MVP in Drake Maye, Buffalo employs Josh Allen, Jacksonville has been one of the league's hottest teams over the past two months and Pittsburgh has a Hall-of-Fame combination at head coach and quarterback.

But if we're looking at how the Chargers can get there, the formula is actually simple.

Offensively, the Bolts will need to protect Justin Herbert and allow him time to make plays through the air and on the ground. And the Chargers will need to produce a consistent run game that keeps opposing defenses honest.

The Chargers ranked second in the league in time of possession (32 minutes and 30 seconds) but were actually first in that metric (32:55) before sitting starters in Week 18 against the Broncos.

If the Bolts can replicate that style of play — possessing the ball on offense to keep their defense fresh — it's a simple yet effective way to win in January.

Defensively, the Chargers will need to be opportunistic with turnovers and sacks.

The Bolts tied for seventh with 23 takeaways and tied for 10th with 45.0 sacks among all teams in the regular season. Getting some of those against top-tier quarterbacks will be crucial.

The Chargers defense will also need to limit the big play. Prior to Week 18 when the defensive starters didn't play, the Chargers allowed at least one play of 40-plus yards in three of their five losses.

And the two long touchdown passes allowed in the first six minutes of a home loss to Houston effectively swung all momentum to the Texans and flipped the entire game script.

That can't happen beginning Sunday night against Maye, who loves to hit the deep shot and ranked third in completion percentage on passes of 20 or more yards in 2025.

Finally, the Chargers need to be sound for 60 minutes on special teams. No explosive returns allowed, no mishits on punts and some clutch makes from Cameron Dicker.

Add it all up and that's how the Chargers can make a deep postseason run.

Will the Bolts do it? We'll find out soon enough.

How will Jim Harbaugh prepare his team differently after last season's playoff loss to Houston? (via Twitter)

A great question here.

A year ago, there was plenty of outside chatter that the Chargers should want the No. 5 seed so they could could to Houston for a well-positioned matchup. Well, we know how that turned out.

This time around, many pundits said the Bolts should want the No. 7 seed for a date in New England. It remains to be seen how this one goes.

In terms of the gameplan, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh held his Monday press conference and gave away very few secrets as to what the Bolts could do against the Patriots.

But what I can tell you is that players and coaches I've spoken with since the Texans playoff loss have all emphasized the need to be locked in from the get go.

And that doesn't mean Sunday at kickoff. That means two days ago when it was Monday morning and the week was getting underway.

Harbaugh certainly had that mindset Monday when he barely cracked a smile and gave succinct answers.

"Ready to have at it. I know it's only Monday, but that's the kind of energy that's in the building," Harbaugh said.

He later added: "I expect a playoff-type of atmosphere. We've all seen that a lot, specifically in Foxborough. Getting ourselves prepared physically, mentally, is the task at hand."

Harbaugh was hired to win. He's done that in the regular season with back-to-back, 11-win seasons.

Now the challenge is getting it done in the postseason. I expect him to have his team as prepared as ever for Sunday in primetime.

When is the team traveling to Foxborough for the playoffs? Going early on Friday!? Hoping for another primetime win this season and for Khalil Mack and Justin Herbert to get their 1st playoff win on Sunday. (Monday morning for me!) (Laoise via Twitter)

Yes, the Chargers are leaving Friday afternoon for the East Coast.

Harbaugh implemented the two-day travel schedule when he took over last year and the results have been solid. The Chargers are 6-2 in Eastern time zone games over the past two seasons.

Personally speaking, the extra day is nice to get adjusted to the time change so your body isn't out of whack at kickoff. And I say that as someone who doesn't have to actually play in the game.

In terms of the primetime slot, it was hard not to be excited about it since the Chargers went 5-0 in primetime this season.

But then I realized New England went 4-0 in primetime. Something has gotta give this weekend, right?

To me, the Chargers-Patriots matchup just might be the best one of the entire Wild Card schedule.

Good question, Laoise, and thank you for your support of the Bolts from afar.

What are the chances Ben Cleveland starts at RG immediately? (via Twitter)

What are the chances of Joe Alt coming back if we make it to the AFC title game? (via Twitter)

I'm lumping these pair of offensive line questions together.

Because both might have the same answer: highly unlikely.

Guard Ben Cleveland was added to the Chargers practice squad on Monday. While getting extra offensive line depth is always a good thing, it doesn't mean that Cleveland is suddenly going to suit up and start just six days after joining the roster.

Remember that the Chargers signed running back Ezekiel Elliott to the practice squad a few days before the playoff game in Houston and did not activate him.

Perhaps we see Cleveland get elevated down the road if the Chargers advance, but it likely won't happen this weekend.

In my mind, the starting offensive line combination Sunday night should be, from left to right, Jamaree Salyer, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton and Trey Pipkins III. That is assuming that Salyer (hamstring) and Bozeman (concussion) are healthy and able to go.

Someone who won't be playing Sunday is Joe Alt. And as I've said here and on social media already, it is extremely unlikely that Alt returns this season, even if the Chargers make it to the Super Bowl.