SAN DIEGO — As the AFC’s seventh and last seed, Jim Harbaugh’s LosAngeles Chargers actually caught two breaks going into the Super Bowl tournament that will begin this weekend.

The Chargers (11-6) will face the second-seeded Patriots (14-3) in New England.

That’s a better matchup for Los Angeles than having to play either the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars or the fifth-seeded Houston Texans. Why? Those defenses are better-equipped to exploit a wobbly Chargers blocking unit that will lack star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater.

Boasting explosive ends in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter plus a good backup edge rusher in Derek Barnett, the Texans would pose the diciest matchup for L.A.’s tackles and others who help them.

A Jaguars front led by end Josh Hines-Allen can create similar problems.

For the Chargers, there are no other personnel mismatches in the AFC field as daunting as having to protect Justin Herbert at Houston or Jacksonville.

The second break for L.A. is this one, and it’s the bigger of the two:

The Broncos (14-3) are a mediocre top seed that peaked several weeks ago, meaning that if the Chargers beat Mike Vrabel’s well-coached Patriots, they’d have a fair shot of winning the divisional-round game at Denver to advance to the Super Bowl qualifier.

The Broncos have allowed 25 points or more in three of their past four games, not counting Sunday’s contest, which Herbert sat out and Denver needed to win to get the top seed.

The Broncos’ success on offense owes much to coach Sean Payton’s clever planning and playcalling. Deep into the season, the Chargers and others have cut into that advantage.

Looking comfortable with what they were seeing, coordinator Jesse Minter’s defenders outplayed Broncos starters for much of Sunday’s game despite lacking three stars in safety Derwin James Jr., edge rusher Khalil Mack and linebacker Daiyan Henley.

The Broncos won 19-3, but that was despite their offense, which gained just 4.1 yards per play and allowed four sacks.

NFC breakdown

The NFC’s Seattle Seahawks are a true No. 1 seed, playing with force on both sides of the ball.

If quarterback Sam Darnold can avoid turnovers — as he seemed extra keen to do in Saturday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers with a first-round bye on the line for both teams — the Seahawks (14-3) will have a great shot at winning their second Super Bowl trophy.

Injury attrition and fatigue argue strongly against the 12-5 49ers winning the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy since the blowout win over the Chargers 31 years ago in Super Bowl 29.

The Niners could not match the Seahawks’ physicality Saturday in what was San Francisco’s third game in just 13 days. Now they must face a rugged, well-rested Eagles team in Philadelphia.

San Francisco general manager John Lynch, the Hall of Fame safety who grew up in Solana Beach, Calif., looked ready to put on a helmet after watching his defense allow the Seahawks to convert on third-and-17 with a crack toss sweep. Attacking 49ers at middle linebacker and left end, where injuries have subtracted All-Pros Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, plus other spots, the Seahawks got critical blocks from undrafted receiver Jake Bobo, rookie guard Grey Zabel and tight end Eric Saubert, who’s on his 11th NFL franchise.

Here’s the playoff game almost all football lovers want to see: the Rams against the Seahawks for a third time this season. The teams split two close contests, each winning at home. A rematch would come in Seattle.

The Seahawks’ 38-37 win Dec. 18 was perhaps the most entertaining NFL game this season. A month earlier, the Rams picked off four Darnold passes and won 21-19, although not before sweating out kicker Jason Myers’ 61-yard try as time ran out.

The Rams haven’t regained peak form since the loss at Seattle. They did get a lift Sunday from Tyler Higbee. A complete tight end who ties together Sean McVay’s offense, the 10th-year player was playing in his first game since injuring an ankle Nov. 16. Higbee caught a 22-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter and finished with five catches for 91 yards. It was two years ago next week that Higbee suffered an injury that required reconstructive knee surgery.

Draft fallout

Light a candle for Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza because in April, he will join the low-talent Las Vegas Raiders (3-14) as the first pick of the NFL draft. A New York Giants win over the Dallas Cowboys ensured Las Vegas got the first slot.

For Mendoza’s sake, Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and rookie general manager John Spytek need to make large upgrades to the offensive line, pass-catching group and the coaching staff.

The Kansas City Chiefs got the ninth pick. That’s nine spots better than the highest slot generated by a Chiefs team since coach Andy Reid took over in 2013.

New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey, a former San Diego State quarterback and receiver, holds the No. 2 pick. If Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, 20, decides to leave early for the NFL, Mougey will have to think about drafting him after Mendoza goes. The Jets had the NFL’s worst point differential this year, but Mougey hit on a few draft picks, including right tackle Armand Membou, who went seventh.

Friday’s Indiana-Oregon game will allow NFL scouts a closer look at the two QBs.

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