LA Chargers playoff picture: What Week 16 vs. Cowboys means for AFC standings

Week 16 has already blessed us with some amazing games, between the NFC West clash on Thursday that saw the Seahawks win an OT thriller against the Rams, and Saturday night’s Bears vs. Packers NFC North battle. Oh, and the Eagles also beat the Commanders — which eliminated the Chargers’ opponent this week, the Dallas Cowboys, from playoff contention. And heading into Sunday, we could see some big shifts in the AFC playoff picture.

The first big shift we could see? The Broncos clinching the AFC West, which will happen if the Broncos beat the Jaguars and if the Chargers lose to the Cowboys. Denver could also lock up the top seed in the AFC if the two aforementioned scenarios come to pass, plus the Patriots lose to the Ravens and the Bills lose to the Browns.

But the most important shift we could see on Sunday is the Chargers clinching a playoff spot. That will happen with a win over the Cowboys, plus either a Texans loss to the Raiders or a Colts loss to the 49ers.

Here’s where the Chargers stand heading into Week 16 vs. the Cowboys.

AFC West standings

1. Denver Broncos 12-2
2. Los Angeles Chargers 10-4
3. Kansas City Chiefs 6-8
4. Las Vegas Raiders 2-12

Updated AFC playoff picture

1. Denver Broncos 12-2 (clinched playoff berth)
2. New England Patriots 11-3
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 10-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
5. Los Angeles Chargers 10-4
6. Buffalo Bills 10-4
7. Houston Texans 9-5
8. Indianapolis Colts 8-5
9. Baltimore Ravens 7-7
10. Miami Dolphins 6-7

Eliminated from AFC playoff contention

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