NFL
What do the Los Angeles Chargers need to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs?
The Chargers host the Broncos in week 16 and are hopeful of reaching the postseason for just the third time in 11 years.
The 2024 NFL playoffs have started to take shape, with seven teams having already clinched their postseason spots by the end of play in week 15, a record since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
Teams that have clinched 2024 NFL playoffs
AFC
- Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West winners)
- Buffalo Bills (AFC East winners)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Houston Texans (AFC South winners)
NFC
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Minnesota Vikings
More franchises can join the party in week 16, including both the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) and the Denver Broncos (9-5), who face off at SoFi Stadium in Thursday Night Football.
The duo have long since accepted the Kansas City Chiefs (13-1) would win AFC but are both well positioned to claim one of the AFC wild-card spots, which they could do with two games to spare.
How the Broncos can reach the postseason
While the Broncos task couldn’t be more straightforward, the Chargers have a little more work to do.
That said, a victory against Denver will be enough to secure a wild-card spot, provided the Indianapolis Colts (against the Tennessee Titans) and the Miami Dolphins (against the San Francisco 49ers) both lose (or tie) in week 16.
A tie would even be enough for L.A. if the Colts, the Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals (against the Cleveland Browns) all fail to win.
In any case, two wins from their remaining three games will remove any doubt.
Chargers' remaining 2024 regular-season games
Week 16: Broncos, December 19
Week 17: @ Patriots, December 28
Week 18: @ Raiders, January 5 (TBC)
Broncos - Chargers: date, time, how to watch
The week 16 game between the Broncos and the Chargers will be played at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, December 19, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT.
The game will be shown exclusively live on Amazon Prime Video.
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