Playoff Stakes for Chargers and Broncos
Both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos have secured their spots in the playoffs.
Yet, there’s still the issue of who will grab the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the upcoming Week 18 game could significantly influence the playoff landscape.
Let’s dive into what’s on the line when these teams clash this Sunday afternoon.
Chargers’ Playoff Situation
As mentioned earlier, the Chargers have clinched a playoff berth. If the playoffs kicked off today, they would enter as the No. 6 seed and would head east to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Wild Card Weekend.
However, after their recent loss to the Houston Texans, the Chargers are out of the AFC West contention. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has indicated that starting quarterback Justin Herbert will not play on Sunday. It’s anticipated that the Chargers will rest several key players, and oddsmakers have favored the Broncos by 12.5 points.
Despite that, this game matters for the Chargers’ positioning in the playoffs. A win against Denver could elevate them to the No. 5 seed. They’d need either a Texans loss or tie against the Indianapolis Colts to solidify that spot. Interestingly, a tie with the Broncos coupled with a Texans loss or a loss/tie for the Buffalo Bills against the New York Jets would achieve the same outcome.
On the flip side, a loss for the Chargers, combined with a win or tie from the Bills against the Jets, would drop them to the seventh seed.
Broncos’ Playoff Aspirations
However, their goal is the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Both the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars are still in contention for that top spot; crucially, only the Broncos can fully determine their fate. Denver shares a 13-3 record with the Patriots, yet they hold the tiebreaker advantage based on their overall performance.
This positions the Broncos favorably heading into the weekend.
A victory over the Chargers would secure the No. 1 seed for them, allowing for a week of rest before the divisional round.
Even if the Chargers manage to win, the Broncos can still clinch the top spot if the Patriots lose to the Miami Dolphins, or if the Jaguars do not win or tie against the Tennessee Titans.
Should the Patriots tie or lose to the Dolphins, the Broncos would find themselves in a tie for first place in the AFC.
In summary, both teams have already made it to the playoffs.
