If the Chargers host the AFC title game, the NFL would consider moving it to the L.A. Coliseum — meaning the venue would be hosting two title games in the same weekend.
The NFL is finding itself in a complicated predicament regarding the Los Angeles Chargers — one that is making them at least consider changing the location of the upcoming AFC Championship Game, should the Chargers be the host team.
Since moving from San Diego prior to the 2017 season, the Chargers have played their home games at the tiny Digital Health Sports Park, formerly known as the Stubhub Center. As the home stadium of Major League Soccer’s L.A. Galaxy, it is primarily used for soccer and is not properly designed to accommodate NFL games.
With that said, the NFL could potentially relocate the AFC title game to the L.A. Coliseum if necessary, according to CBS. The Coliseum would serve as a feasible host, being the home stadium of the Los Angeles Rams and USC Trojans.
However, this solution also presents another dilemma. There’s a chance the Rams could be hosting the NFC Championship Game next weekend as well, which would cause problems if the Coliseum was expected to play host to two games on the same day. It would simply be too much wear and tear for one gridiron to handle.
If this were the case, then the likely answer would be to move one of the games to Monday night. It would certainly be a very unusual experience, but one that would be necessary to best accommodate the two games that will decide which teams will appear in Super Bowl LIII.
Of course, the NFL will cross these bridges when it comes to them. In order for the Chargers to host the AFC title game, they would need to defeat the New England Patriots this weekend at Gillette Stadium, and the Indianapolis Colts would have to beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Additionally, for the Rams to host the NFC title game, they would have to beat the Dallas Cowboys at home, and the Philadelphia Eagles would have to knock off the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome.
There are many factors in play here, but should they all fall in the right direction, next weekend could be a busy one for the L.A. Coliseum.