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

The worst case scenario for the Chargers this week would be to hold onto the last Wild Card spot in the AFC — but what’s the best case scenario?

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

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.