Chargers playoff picture: What Week 18 vs. Broncos means for AFC standings

Chargers playoff picture: What Week 18 vs. Broncos means for AFC standings
Bolts From The Blue Bolts From The Blue

Justin Herbert will be on the sideline this week when the Chargers take on the Broncos in Denver, and it’s no shock that the Broncos — the top seed in the AFC — are favored in this one. The worst possible outcome for the Chargers this week is still a Wild Card spot, and the division is out of reach anyway with the Bolts two full games back from Denver.

But the Chargers still could move up a couple of spots to the No. 5 position depending on some outcomes in Week 18.

If the Chargers do manage to beat the Broncos, and the Texans lose to the Colts, or if the Chargers win, the Texans win, and the Jaguars lose to the Titans and the Bills beat the Jets, they can still land the No. 5 seed as long as they secure the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Bills and Jaguars.

For the No. 6 seed, the Chargers could lose to the Broncos as long as the Bills lose, or the Chargers could beat the Broncos and secure the sixth seed if the Texans/Jaguars/Bills scenario above comes to pass but the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Bills and Jags does not come through. The worst the Chargers can do is stay right where they are, at No. 7, which will happen with a loss and a Bills win.

Here’s where everything stands in the AFC heading into Week 18.

AFC West standings

  1. Denver Broncos
  2. Los Angeles Chargers
  3. Kansas City Chiefs
  4. Las Vegas Raiders

Updated AFC playoff picture

  1. Denver Broncos 13-3 (clinched playoff berth)
  2. New England Patriots 13-3 (clinched playoff berth)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars 12-4 (clinched playoff berth)
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
  5. Buffalo Bills 11-4 (clinched playoff berth)
  6. Houston Texans 11-5 (clinched playoff berth)
  7. Los Angeles Chargers 11-5 (clinched playoff berth)
  8. Indianapolis Colts (eliminated)
  9. Baltimore Ravens 7-8

Eliminated from AFC playoff contention

  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • New York Jets
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Las Vegas Raiders