Week 15 NFL Matchup: Chargers vs. Chiefs

As we dive into Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, there are certainly some notable matchups to keep an eye on. One game in particular—the clash between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs—has significant playoff implications for both teams.

Interestingly, this matchup could mark the end of Kansas City’s impressive streak.

Playoff Picture for the Chargers

Currently, if the playoffs were to start today, the Chargers would be entering as the No. 5 seed in the AFC, setting up a wild-card weekend showdown against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Of course, there’s still a lot of football left to be played.

This weekend, the Chargers can’t clinch their playoff spot just yet. That’ll come later. However, a victory would align them with the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, maintaining their aspirations for a division title. Denver isn’t set to clinch the AFC West either but could secure a playoff berth with a win over the Packers. So, a win for the Chargers would keep their wild-card hopes very much alive.

If they lose, it’s not the end of the world, but things could get dicey. Los Angeles might find themselves on the outside looking in if they drop this game. Specifically, a loss to the Chiefs, coupled with wins from the Texans and Colts, would push the Chargers out of the playoff picture with only three weeks left.

Playoff Picture for the Chiefs

The Chiefs, under Patrick Mahomes, have enjoyed quite the run.

Yet, this weekend could change everything.

For an excellent reference on potential playoff scenarios, I highly recommend checking out a site dedicated to NFL postseason possibilities. Right now, they highlight that Kansas City has 37 different scenarios this weekend that could see them eliminated from playoff contention. It’s pretty complex, involving various outcomes from other games where the Chiefs might lose out in tiebreakers.

But if you’re looking for the simplest route to elimination for Kansas City? A loss to the Chargers would put them in a tough spot. If that happens, combined with a win or tie from the Bills and Patriots, a win or tie from the Jaguars and Jets, and another win or tie from the Texans and Cardinals, the Chiefs would be out.

These outcomes, believe it or not, feel quite likely.

A victory would bring Kansas City to a 7-7 record for the season. They may be out of the running for the AFC West title, but they’d still be competing for a wild-card spot.

In their first matchup earlier this season, the Chargers emerged victorious. If they win again, they’ll have the upper hand in head-to-head record, which is crucial should these teams end the season tied for a wild-card spot.

Conversely, if Kansas City wins, the series between them would be split. Should they both end the season with the same wild-card record after splitting their series, they’d go to a tiebreak based on division records. Right now, the Chargers sit at 4-0 in their division while the Chiefs are 1-2. A Chiefs win would flip those records.

Following this game, the Chargers will have just one more divisional matchup against the Broncos, while Kansas City has two remaining against the Raiders and Broncos.

This could set the stage for both teams to end up tied in divisional records at 4-2, leading to yet another tiebreak round based on common opponents—something where Kansas City currently has the edge. Their wins against teams like the Commanders, Colts, and Giants position them favorably, especially since the Chargers stumbled in three of those games.

As we head into Sunday, here’s how the AFC standings look:

1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
2. New England Patriots (11-2)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
7. Houston Texans (8-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5)
9. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
13. New York Jets (3-10) – eliminated
14. Cleveland Browns (3-10) – eliminated
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) – eliminated
16. Tennessee Titans (2-11) – eliminated

Moreover, the AFC West standings are as follows before the games kick off:

1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
4. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) – eliminated