Welcome back to the Chargers Mailbag!

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

Off we go...

What's the realistic path to the playoffs after the bye? (Julian via email)

The Chargers are on a bye so we'll keep this Mailbag relatively short.

The Bolts current sit at 7-4 and are in the No. 6 seed — as the second Wild Card team — in the AFC playoff picture.

As it stands now, the Chargers playoff odds are generally in the same range in a few different models: 64 percent (The Athletic), 60 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 63 percent (ESPN).

We'll say it here that 10 wins likely gets the Chargers into the dance, so a 3-3 record over the final six games would probably do the trick.

The Bolts have an even split of home game (Raiders, Eagles and Texans) and road games (Chiefs, Cowboys and Broncos) left on the schedule.

To me, you have to start the final six-game stretch with a home win over the Raiders, simply because that team has the worst record of any opponent left.

But things will heat up from there, with an extra emphasis on division and conference games. The contests against the Chiefs, Texans and Broncos will be the ones that could decide whether or not the Bolts get in.

Aside from the current four division leaders, the AFC Wild Card race feels like a six-team race for three spots.

The good news? The Chargers have the tiebreaker over the Chiefs right now and would have it over the Texans with a Week 17 win. And, if the Steelers were to fall out of the AFC North lead, the Bolts have the tiebreaker over them, too. The Chargers do not have that tiebreaker over the Jaguars.

I'm not going to predict which games the Chargers will potentially win or lose, but it's not a stretch to say that if the Bolts can find three wins in the final six games, they should make a second straight playoff appearance under Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, by the way, said last week that he's excited for the playoff push ahead but noted that the Bolts will be fine if they just worry about themselves.

"The answer is always going to come out to be the same: you have to take care of your own business," Harbaugh said. "You can't rely on another team not playing well or losing, of the team you want to win, wins.

"It doesn't usually work out that way. It works out the way that, handle your own business," Harbaugh added. "The only game that matters the most, practically all that matters, is the one we're playing in."

How is team morale during a bye week? Do players stick around and get extra work in? Or you see everyone leave for rest? (via Twitter)

The morale is fine.

Was there some frustration with the way the team went into the bye? Sure.

But do the Bolts deserve a break? Absolutely.

Keep in mind that the Chargers have been grinding nonstop since mid-July and almost no time off between now and then. The Bolts reported to training camp on July 16 and essentially went for four straight months before the bye week.

Harbaugh gave players Tuesday to Sunday off, but that doesn't mean some guys won't get some work in on their own.

Khalil Mack indicated postgame Sunday that he was going to.

"It ain't time to chill. We've got work to do. That's going to be the message from me," Mack said.

One thing is for sure: the Chargers have been hit hard by injuries this season and everyone could use some time off.

"It's always tough. When you lose a game like that, you want to go back out there, and you want to get that taste out of your mouth," Justin Herbert said Sunday. "I think it's tough because now we have to wait a week -- two weeks to go back and play, but I think it will be good.

"I think a lot of guys will get their bodies back this week, and the rest will be good for us," Herbert added.

What, if anything, should the Chargers be thankful for during this Thanksgiving season? (via Twitter)

A lot.

The Chargers have a winning record, are currently in a playoff spot and have Harbaugh, Herbert and Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz in crucial leadership roles within the organization.

Almost every other NFL team would take that trio in a heartbeat.

I get there is fan frustration with the way Sunday went, but the big-picture view is that the Bolts aren't in panic mode.

Will they make the playoffs? That remains to be seen.

But the Chargers have positioned themselves well to be playing meaningful football after the bye week, so let's all sit back and enjoy the ride.