Monday update: The Chargers are headed back to the playoffs for a second straight season. They clinched their playoff berth after the Colts lost to the 49ers on Monday Night Football to close out Week 16. The Colts loss to clinched playoff berths for the Chargers, Jaguars, and Bills. LA sits a game back of the Broncos in the AFC West and the two squads face off in Week 18.
NFL playoff picture: How the Chargers can clinch a playoff berth after Cowboys win in Week 16
The Chargers host the Cowboys on Sunday with a chance to punch their ticket to the postseason. We break down how they can clinch a spot in the 2026 NFL Playoffs in Week 16.
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Sunday Update 2: The Texans defeated the Raiders 23-21 on Sunday. That means that the Chargers will have to wait until the Monday night showdown between the 49ers and Colts, where an Indianapolis loss will officially clinch them a playoff berth.
Sunday Update 1: The Chargers beat the Cowboys, 34-17, on Sunday. The Chargers clinch a playoff berth with a loss by either the Texans or Colts.. With the win, Los Angeles improves to 11-4 on the season but stays at the No. 5 seed in the AFC Playoff picture. The Chargers remain behind the 12-2 Denver Broncos, who play later in the day against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The division rivals play in the season finale in Week 18, but it’s possible Denver will wrap up the division before then. The Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention.
The Los Angeles are on the verge of their second consecutive playoff berth under head coach Jim Harbaugh. He quickly turned things around last year and this year they could do even more. They have their work cut out for them in the AFC West, but it would require a significant collapse for them to miss the playoffs this year.
They can help their case in Week 16 when they travel to face the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers have won three straight, with an overtime win against the Eagles and a win at Kansas City that eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. They sit at 10-4 and are two games back of the Broncos in the AFC West.
They face a Cowboys squad that struggled to get on track, and once they finally did, subsequently stumbled. They’ve lost two straight to the Lions and Vikings and were officially eliminated from playoff contention last night when the Eagles beat the Commanders to clinch the NFC East title. The Cowboys officially have nothing to play for in this game.
Los Angeles Chargers playoff berth clinching scenarios
The Chargers still need some help to punch their playoff ticket in Week 16. If they win, they will clinch a playoff berth with either a Colts loss to the 49ers on Monday or a Texans loss to the Raiders. The Colts are a 5.5-point home underdog against the 49ers while the Texans are a 14.5-point home favorite against the Raiders. There are scenarios in which a tie changes things, but it’s unlikely we see any ties.
AFC standings entering Week 16
AFC West standings
- Denver Broncos: 12-2
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-4
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6-8
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-12
AFC standings
- Denver Broncos: 12-2
- New England Patriots: 12-2
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 10-4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-6
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10-4
- Buffalo Bills: 10-4
- Houston Texans: 9-5
- Indianapolis Colts: 8-6
- Baltimore Ravens: 7-7
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