How the Chargers clinched a playoff berth in Week 17

The Los Angeles Chargers are on the brink of a playoff berth. We break down how they can clinch a spot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs in Week 17.

Game update: The Chargers did in fact clinch their wild card berth with a win on Sunday. They will have a decision to make in Week 18 to see if they want to play their starters to get a higher seed or rest heading into the playoffs.

Justin Herbert is on the brink of returning to the playoffs.

Thanks to their comeback win over the Denver Broncos in Week 16, the Los Angeles Chargers are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot in Week 17. They will get their first crack at locking up a place in the playoffs Saturday when they travel east to take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

However, they can even back into the postseason if they lose Saturday to Drake Maye and company.

Here are the Chargers’ paths to the playoffs in Week 17.

Chargers playoff berth clinching scenarios

The Chargers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie Saturday against the New England Patriots.

• Chargers win

However, even if the Chargers lose to the Patriots, they can still get in if a pair of games break their way in Week 17. Even with a loss Saturday against New England, Los Angeles still qualifies for the playoffs with: An Indianapolis Colts loss or tie against the New York Giants, and a Miami Dolphins loss or tie against the Cleveland Browns.

• Dolphins loss/tie AND Colts loss/tie

The Chargers have a head-to-head win over the Bengals, which is why they don’t factor in here.

If the Chargers lose Saturday, and they do not get the results they need on Sunday, then they will have to wait until Week 18 to clinch a playoff spot.

AFC standings entering Week 17

Here are the updated AFC standings, including the results from the games on Christmas Day.

1. z-Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. y-Buffalo Bills (12-3)
3. x-Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
4. y-Houston Texans (9-7)

5. x-Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wins over DEN)*
7. Denver Broncos (9-6, losses to LA)*

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC, win over MIA)*
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8, 5-5 AFC, loss to IND)*
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
11. New York Jets (4-11) — eliminated
12. Cleveland Browns (3-12, 3-7 AFC. win over JAX) — eliminated
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12, win over TEN, 3-7 AFC, loss to CLE) — eliminated
14. Tennessee Titans (3-12, 3-7 AFC) — eliminated
15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12, 3-8) — eliminated
16. New England Patriots (3-12, 2-8) — eliminated

Teams with an asterisk (*) have been eliminated from divisional contention
Teams with an (x) have clinched a playoff spot
Teams with a (y) have clinched their division
Teams with a (z) have clinched home-field advantage