The Los Angeles Chargers are practically a slam dunk for the playoffs after their quarterback treated Thursday night like a day on the field.

Although LA lost three of its last four games and faced the red-hot Denver Broncos, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert allayed the concerns of his coach Jim Harbaugh.

“It’s like a pickup basketball coach,” Herbert told Harbaugh before the game.

A relaxed and effective Herbert led the Chargers to a 34-27 victory over the Broncos on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. The win catapulted the Chargers to a 9-6 record, with the odds of them making the postseason rising to 99 percent in some quarters.

“That’s our guy,” Harbaugh said of Herbert. “That was his attitude.”

Doubt crept into the Chargers’ minds, and why not? After the team posted a record of 7-3, the competition became tougher and LA became gentler.

That included Sunday’s embarrassing home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the first game this season in which the Chargers appeared to be overwhelmed. The Bucs outgained the Bolts’ celebrated defense for 40 points and 500 yards.

Harbaugh, of course, used this negative as an opportunity for his players to show their courage. Yes, disaster had come, and what exactly would his charges do about it in the short term?

“It was a test,” Harbaugh said. “Short week, big challenge, playing against a hot team and competing with a lot of confidence. “Our boys fought for the victory.”

The Chargers kept their game in order as red-blooded running back Gus Edwards turned back the clock to score two touchdowns.

The Chargers really came into their own when Herbert threw two touchdown passes in the second half.

The Chargers puffed their chests out, indeed, with a defense that allowed just three points in the final two quarters after giving up points on Denver’s first three possessions.

Even the special teams turned heads with a rare, fair catch to end the first half, which culminated in Cameron Dicker’s 57-yard field goal.

“Just a total team effort,” Harbaugh said. “That’s how you have to react and that’s what they did, but that was them. They just got back to work and stayed the course.”

The Chargers have changed course dramatically under Harbaugh, and the numbers don’t lie.

The biggest number, of course, is the $16 million a year Harbaugh received for a five-year deal to adapt LA’s sad script. As with any other coaching stint, the change is real: The Chargers earned their ninth win after winning just five last season.

They play meaningful games late in the season, which has often been just a pipe dream for an organization known for stubbing its opponents’ toes rather than kicking their asses.

“We talked all week about how important these games are, especially in December and January, and we knew the impact,” Herbert said. “We stressed all week, ‘Hey, this is a playoff game for us.’ It’s the environment, it’s the team.”

Many speculate that it’s the coach’s fault. He is someone who pays attention to details but never forgets that fun comes first.

Herbert followed Harbaugh’s example and it led to a thrilling and important victory.

“As long as we play loose, free, fearless and go out there and just play ball and do what we do, I think we’re at our best,” he said.

Harbaugh would probably add that the best is yet to come and he may be right.