Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season is right here, and with it arrives maybe the most effective a part of the 12 months’s schedule.
As a result of not solely will we get NFL video games on Saturday — and with the Faculty Soccer Playoff first spherical video games going down this weekend, that makes for an unbelievable weekend of soccer — however we additionally get de facto playoff video games, as groups can both clinch a spot within the postseason, or face elimination this weekend.
Two groups that may clinch a spot within the playoffs in Week 16 are the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers, and as luck would have it, these two AFC West rivals sq. off to start the week on Thursday Night time Soccer. Right here is how Los Angeles can clinch a playoff spot this week.
Chargers playoff berth clinching eventualities
Whereas the Broncos have a easy “win and in” state of affairs Thursday night time, issues are decidedly extra sophisticated for the Chargers. Even with a win over their AFC West rivals on Thursday Night time Soccer, they nonetheless want somewhat assist.
Right here is how the Chargers can clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
First, they’ll get in in the event that they beat the Broncos, after which the Miami Dolphins lose or tie towards the San Francisco 49ers, and the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie towards the Tennessee Titans.
- Chargers win AND Dolphins loss/tie AND Colts loss/tie
Nonetheless, the Chargers may get into the playoffs within the unlikely situation that their recreation towards the Broncos ends in a tie. If that occurs. the Chargers get into the playoffs if the Dolphins lose to the 49ers, the Colts lose to the Titans, and the Cincinnati Bengals lose or tie towards the Cleveland Browns.
- Chargers tie AND Dolphins loss AND Colts loss AND Bengals loss/tie
Ought to the Chargers lose, they can not clinch a playoff spot in Week 16.
AFC standings coming into Week 16
1. y-Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (13-1)
2. y-Buffalo Payments (11-3)
3. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-5)
5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5, win over DEN)
6. Denver Broncos (9-5, loss to BAL)*
7. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)*
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8, 5-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (6-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8, 3-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-10) — eradicated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-11, win over JAX) — eradicated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11, win over TEN, loss to CLE, win over NE) — eradicated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-11, loss to JAX, win over NE) — eradicated
15. New England Patriots (3-11, losses to JAX & TEN) — eradicated
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12) — eradicated
Groups with an asterisk (*) have been eradicated from divisional rivalry
Groups with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Groups with a (y) have clinched their division
