The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, and their dramatic victory means they could clinch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday. Entering the game with an 8-5 record, Justin Herbert and company overcame an early deficit to take down Bo Nix and the Broncos while increasing their playoff odds to 97%, per NFL.com. While they would need a historic collapse to miss the postseason, they can increase those odds to 100% if two games go their way on Sunday.
As of this posting, only three non-playoff teams still have a mathematical shot at the postseason: the 6-8 Indianapolis Colts, 6-8 Miami Dolphins, and 6-8 Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns has no bearing on the Chargers playoff fate, but the other two games matter. If the Colts lose to the Tennessee Titans and the Dolphins lose to the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Chargers will make the playoffs.
Chargers Can Make the Playoffs From the Couch On Sunday
Anything can happen on any given Sunday, but the betting odds suggest the Chargers won’t clinch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday. The Miami Dolphins are currently 1.5-point favorites over the San Francisco 49ers, as Brock Purdy’s banged-up squad has not played up to their usual level. The Colts, meanwhile, are 4.5-point favorites against the Titans, although perhaps switching from Will Levis to Mason Rudolph will bring some life to an inconsistent passing attack.
Even if one or both teams win, the Chargers should be able to punch their ticket to the playoffs as soon as next week. Los Angeles faces off against an abysmal New England Patriots team in Week 17. While rookie quarterback Drake Maye looks impressive, the rest of the roster is a disaster, and head coach Jerod Mayo is way over his head. One more win ensures the Chargers earn a spot in the postseason, and they’ll want to keep winning to improve their seeding.
Chances are, the Buffalo Bills will have the second seed in the playoffs, which means they’ll face off against the seventh seed. The third seed, meanwhile, will likely to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are a good team, but they’re not as good as the Bills, which makes the sixth seed the most desirable spot. If the Chargers win out, they will likely earn the sixth seed and increase their odds of making it deep in the playoffs.
Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA Today Sports
