Sports

NFL playoff picture: What Broncos-Chargers means for AFC standings


Game result: The Chargers surrounded the Broncos Thursday Night FootballThey won more than one match. The Chargers also passed the Broncos in the AFC playoff picture. Both teams are 9-6, but Los Angeles has the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping Denver.

Both teams could also clinch playoff spots this weekend if the teams tie for eighth place on the road side.


Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season begins with a classic AFC West matchup, as the Los Angeles Chargers host the Denver Broncos. Not only is this a game of two storied rivals, but playoff positions are at stake in this encounter.

The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight over the Chargers, and Los Angeles can clinch a playoff spot of their own with a win tonight and a little help over the weekend.

Here’s what’s at stake against West Asia, where… The Chargers are favored by 2.5 points at FanDuel Sportsbooyour.

Broncos game photo

Denver has two paths to the playoffs here in Week 16. The first is fairly straightforward, while the second requires the Broncos to get a little help from their friends.

Easiest way to get into the Broncos? Win over the Chargers tonight. Denver will also earn a playoff berth if tonight’s game against Los Angeles ends in a tie.

However, the Broncos can still make it back to the postseason with a loss to the Chargers tonight, but that will require them to get a little help over the weekend. Even with the loss to Los Angeles, the Broncos can clinch a playoff spot by:

  • The Miami Dolphins lost or tied to the San Francisco 49ers, and
  • A loss to the Cincinnati Bengals or a tie against the Cleveland Browns, and
  • Indianapolis Colts loss or tie to the Tennessee Titans

If those three games are successful, Denver will still enter the playoffs with a loss to the Chargers.

Chargers playoff picture

While the Broncos have a simple “win and take” attitude Thursday night, things are decidedly more complicated for the Chargers. Even with victory over their rivals in West Asia thursday night football, They still need a little help.

Here’s how the Chargers can clinch a spot in the playoffs this weekend.

First, they can get in if they beat the Broncos, then the Miami Dolphins lose or tie to the San Francisco 49ers, and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie to the Tennessee Titans.

However, the Chargers could also make the playoffs in the unlikely scenario of their game against the Broncos ending in a tie. If that happens. The Chargers enter the playoffs if the Dolphins lose to the 49ers, the Colts lose to the Titans, and the Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie to the Cleveland Browns.

If the Chargers lose tonight, they won’t be able to clinch a spot in the playoffs in Week 16.

Implications of breaking the tie

This is the second meeting this year between these two teams.

The Chargers won the first meeting 23-16 over the Broncos in October. If the Chargers win this game, it would give them a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Broncos.

But if Denver wins, any tiebreaker between the two teams would then move to the next tiebreaker, which is the division record. Currently, the two teams are tied at 2-2 in their AFC West games, so a Broncos win would give Denver the later advantage in the tiebreaker against the Chargers. While also clinching a playoff spot for the Broncos.

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