Playoff Picture for Chargers and Texans

The Los Angeles Chargers have already secured a spot in the playoffs.

This weekend, the Houston Texans will face the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.

Let’s take a look at how both teams are positioned in the AFC playoff race.

Houston Texans Playoff Situation

The Texans’ season has been quite a rollercoaster. They began with three losses and ended the first half with a 3-5 record. Despite that shaky start, they’ve managed to win seven consecutive games and are now very close to clinching a playoff berth.

If Houston manages to either win or tie against the Chargers, they will secure their playoff spot.

But, even if they lose, there’s still a path for them. On Sunday, if the Indianapolis Colts end up losing or tying against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans will still move on to the playoffs. Plus, they’re in the mix for the AFC South title as well. After winning their last two games, they lost one to the Jaguars, which puts them in contention to become division champions.

Los Angeles Chargers Playoff Outlook

The Chargers locked in their playoff spot thanks to the Indianapolis Colts’ defeat against the San Francisco 49ers in a Monday night game.

Yet, Los Angeles is still vying for the AFC West title. With the Denver Broncos defeating the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night, they moved closer to clinching the division. If the Chargers beat the Texans, they’ll secure the title in Week 18 and face the Broncos in their final matchup of the season. Conversely, a loss or tie against Houston would effectively take the Chargers out of the AFC West race.

AFC Standings Ahead of Week 17

Following Denver’s recent victory, the current AFC standings are noteworthy.

This upcoming game could significantly influence the playoff seeding for both teams. Currently, the Chargers hold the No. 5 seed with an 11-4 record, while the Texans sit at No. 7 with a 10-5 record.

If Houston wins, both teams would end the day with an 11-5 record. This would give the Texans a tiebreaking edge over the Chargers should they finish the season tied. However, if Houston, Los Angeles, and Buffalo all find themselves even at the season’s end, the outcome will depend on each team’s performance in their respective conferences. Coming into Week 17, both the Chargers and Texans have impressive 8-2 records in AFC play, while Buffalo stands at 8-3.