El Segundo, California – Bo Nix and Justin Herbert are gearing up for a critical AFC West clash on Thursday night, where the stakes are high for both the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers regarding their playoff aspirations.
Both quarterbacks understand the significance of a victory in this matchup, especially as Denver (9-5) rides a four-game winning streak and is on the brink of clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2015 with a triumph at SoFi Stadium. Nix, however, remains focused on winning all three remaining games to secure their postseason berth, rather than merely extending their season by one week. The NFL statistics indicate that a loss for Denver would leave them with an 85% chance of still making the playoffs, contingent upon games against Cincinnati on December 28 and Kansas City in Week 18.
“We’ve got three games to win three and go into the playoffs and win a Super Bowl,” Nix stated confidently.
On the other side, Herbert and the Chargers (8-6) are experiencing a rough patch, having lost three of their last four games. Nevertheless, a win on Thursday, coupled with losses or ties by Miami and Indianapolis, would secure their second playoff berth in three years. “The past couple of games felt like playoff games where they’re important and have that environment where at any moment something big can happen,” said Herbert. “It’s on us to handle that environment and understand the significance of these games.”
If the Chargers emerge victorious, their chances of making the playoffs would skyrocket to 97%, compared to 73% if they were defeated. After Thursday night, Los Angeles will face road games against New England and Las Vegas, both of which are expected to favor the Chargers.
The Chargers aim to complete a season sweep against Denver, marking the first time since 2010 that they would achieve this feat. This would provide them an essential tiebreaker if both teams end up with identical records. Currently, the Chargers hold the seventh position in the AFC, which would mean traveling to either Buffalo or Kansas City for the wild-card round, while Denver sits in the sixth seed, likely facing the AFC North champion, either Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Chargers safety Derwin James emphasized, “We know where we stand as a team; we control our own destiny. This Thursday, everything we want is right in front of us, and it starts with a division game.”
In a significant twist, this match marks the first instance of a game being flexed to Thursday night. The NFL approved an experimental two-year plan that allows up to two games from Weeks 13 through 17 to be adjusted for Amazon Prime Video broadcasts, given prior notice. This flexibility was not utilized last season but became necessary this year, with an AFC North showdown between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals moved to Sunday afternoon.
Denver is the first team to play two consecutive road Thursday games after a Sunday matchup since 1926. “As coaches, we have learned a lot about handling these games differently than we did in the past,” remarked Denver coach Sean Payton. “It’s crucial not to overwhelm players with too many new plays and to ensure they thoroughly grasp what they already know.”
Nix, fresh off a challenging performance where he threw three interceptions in a previous game, managed to lead the Broncos to 31-13 victory over the Colts by scoring 17 points in the last 20 minutes of the game. Payton praised his quarterback, noting, “Later in that game, when we needed him, he didn’t flinch. He has a maturity and composure that is infectious to the team.”
On the Chargers’ side, the absence of key offensive playmakers has been evident, particularly following the injury to running back J.K. Dobbins. Los Angeles had previously run the ball on 44.4% of their plays, but that figure has dipped to just 33.1% in recent games.
Herbert is also contending with a sprained left ankle, though he reported that the condition is improving. “It’s better than it was last week, and as long as we’re heading in that direction, I’m optimistic,” Herbert said.
As the kickoff approaches, both teams are aware of the implications this game carries, not just for this week, but for their hopes of a successful playoff run.