Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season begins, and perhaps the best part of this year's schedule begins.
Because not only will there be an NFL game on Saturday, but this weekend will also feature a College Football Playoff first-round game, making it a great weekend of football. Plus, there will also be de facto playoff games, as teams can either earn a spot or not. If they don't advance to the postseason, they will be eliminated this weekend.
The two teams that could qualify for the playoffs in Week 16 are the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, and we're lucky that these two AFC West rivals will face off at the start of the week. It will be. Thursday Night Football. This week, we'll show you how Los Angeles can clinch a playoff spot.
Chargers' playoff advance scenario
While the Broncos are in a simple win-win situation Thursday night, things are clearly more complicated for the Chargers. Even if we win against our AFC West rivals, thursday night football, They still need a little help.
Here's how the Chargers can clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
First, a win against the Broncos would qualify, followed by a loss or tie for the Miami Dolphins against the San Francisco 49ers and a tie for the Indianapolis Colts against the Tennessee Titans.
- Chargers win AND Dolphins lose/tie AND Colts lose/tie
However, the Chargers could still make the playoffs in the unlikely scenario that the game against the Broncos ends in a tie. If that happens. If the Dolphins lose to the 49ers, the Colts lose to the Titans, and the Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie with the Cleveland Browns, the Chargers will advance to the playoffs.
- Chargers tie AND Dolphins lose AND Colts lose AND Bengals lose/tie
If the Chargers lose in Week 16, they will not qualify for the playoffs.
AFC standings heading into week 16
1.y-kansas city chiefs (13-1)
2.y-buffalo bills (11-3)
3.×-pittsburgh steelers (10-4)
4.y-houston texans (9-5)
5. baltimore ravens (9-5, victory over DEN)
6. denver broncos (9-5, lost to BAL)*
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)*
8. indianapolis colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC wins over MIA)*
9. miami dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, lost to IND)*
10. cincinnati bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*
11. new york jets (4-10) — Eliminated
12. cleveland browns (3-11, victory over JAX) — Eliminated
13. jacksonville jaguars (3-11, won against TEN, lost against CLE, won against NE) — Eliminated
14. tennessee titans (3-11, lost to JAX, won against NE) — Lost
15. New England Patriots (3-11, lost to Jacks & Ten) — Eliminated
16. las vegas raiders (2-12) — Eliminated
Teams marked with an asterisk
excluded from division competition
Teams marked with (x) have qualified for the playoffs
The team marked with (y) won the division
