With three weeks left in the regular season, the AFC West is still up for grabs-and the Los Angeles Chargers are right in the thick of it. Despite a crowded playoff race, the Chargers remain firmly in the hunt, and if a few things break their way, they could even leapfrog the red-hot Denver Broncos for the division crown.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand, who’s still alive, who’s already clinched, and why the next couple of weeks could be pivotal for the Chargers’ postseason path.
Who’s Out, Who’s In, and Who’s Still Fighting
The playoff picture is starting to sharpen, and the first round of eliminations has officially hit. Thirteen teams have been mathematically knocked out of playoff contention, meaning they’re now playing for pride, development, and future evaluation.
Eliminated Teams:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins
- Cincinnati Bengals
- New York Jets
- Cleveland Browns
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Tennessee Titans
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Washington Commanders
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Giants
That’s a wrap for those squads. For everyone else, the stakes are still sky-high.
On the flip side, two teams have already clinched playoff berths:
Clinched Playoff Spots:
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Rams
That leaves 17 teams still fighting for the remaining 12 playoff spots. Five of those teams will ultimately be left out, but for now, the race is wide open.
The Chargers’ Current Position
Right now, the Chargers are sitting in the No. 5 seed in the AFC. That’s a strong position, but far from secure. They’re tied at 10-4 with the Buffalo Bills, but hold the tiebreaker thanks to a better conference record-8-2 in AFC play compared to Buffalo’s 7-3.
That conference record is going to be crucial down the stretch, especially with the Chargers’ next two games coming against AFC opponents. Every win tightens their grip on a playoff spot, but a stumble could open the door for teams like the Bills or Texans to leapfrog them.
If the playoffs started today, the Chargers would be heading to Pittsburgh for a Wild Card matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers-a rematch of an earlier-season clash that left Pittsburgh looking for payback. But the Chargers have their eyes on something bigger: a home playoff game. And to make that happen, they’ll need to catch the Broncos.
The Game That Could Change Everything
Denver is on an absolute tear. The Broncos have rattled off 11 straight wins, climbing all the way to the top of the AFC standings.
Their defense is smothering, the offense is efficient, and they’re winning games in every imaginable way. But this Sunday, they’ll face their toughest test in weeks.
Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville has quietly put together a six-game winning streak of their own, a run that began with a dominant win over-who else?-the Chargers. Now, the Jags head to Mile High looking to snap Denver’s streak and shake up the AFC playoff picture.
A Jaguars win would be a game-changer for the Chargers. If Los Angeles can take care of business in their next two games-against the Cowboys and Texans-it would set up a Week 18 showdown in Denver with the division title on the line. And here’s the kicker: if the Chargers and Broncos finish with the same record, Los Angeles would win the tiebreaker by virtue of a season sweep.
What’s at Stake
The Chargers are in the postseason mix no matter how you slice it, but the difference between a Wild Card road trip and a home game at SoFi Stadium is massive. Winning the division means avoiding a gauntlet of road games and possibly securing a more favorable path through the playoffs.
They’ll need help-specifically from Jacksonville this weekend-but the door is open. The Chargers have put themselves in position. Now it’s about execution.
The AFC West isn’t settled yet. Not by a long shot. And if the Chargers keep stacking wins, Week 18 could end up being one of the most dramatic finishes to a division race we’ve seen in years.