The Chargers regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos is on deck.

Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. (PT) from Denver.

The Chargers-Broncos betting line shows the Bolts are underdogs for Sunday.

Here are five final thoughts ahead of Week 18.

1. Welcome to Week 18

Sixteen regular-season games down, one to go.

But the Chargers 2025 regular-season finale will certainly have a different feel as quarterback Justin Herbert will sit out in Week 18.

"The guys that have the most bruises and need the most healing, we'll pull them back. Justin Herbert would be one," Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier this week.

"He's got bruises that need to heal," Harbaugh later added of Herbert, who has been playing with a broken left hand over the past month.

Trey Lance will start for the 11-win Chargers in what will be only his sixth career start.

"Really excited for him, great opportunity. This guy is a great, great guy to work with," said Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman. "I feel like he does everything he can to support Justin and Justin is doing the same thing for him this week. It will be fun to get out there and do some different stuff with him."

Roman later added: "I think he's going to play really well. It is a great opportunity. What else could you ask for in his position? An opportunity to go out all week, be the starter, go out on gameday, lead us."

While it remains to be seen if other players will rest, the Bolts enter Sunday knowing they are assured a playoff spot and will be a Wild Card team.

But not much is known after that as the Chargers Wild Card opponent could be among six different teams ahead of this weekend.

Plus, the Chargers playoff seeding scenarios are also up in the air as the Bolts could be either the Nos. 5, 6 or 7 seed in the dance.

Harbaugh said this week the Chargers will let the games play out before turning their attention to the postseason.

"There's no way to predict. We're going on the road [in the] first round, all potential teams would be good," Harbaugh said.

"We'll get ourselves ready for that," Harbaugh added. "Play the game, win the game then find out where we're going, that's the objective."

The 13-3 Broncos will have something to play for as Denver can secure the No. 1 seed with a win.

But even if the Chargers choose to rest their regulars, don't think they won't want to end the regular season on a high note.

"We're going there to try and win the game," said Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter.

2. A chance for KLS

Looking for a rookie to watch Sunday on offense?

Hello, KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

The Chargers fifth-round pick has carved out a role for himself on special teams of late but could get some extended run if the Bolts older wide receivers get a bit of a breather in Denver.

"It's an opportunity for me and for other young guys who maybe don't play as much to go out there and show our worth," Lambert-Smith said.

The rookie has been targeted seven times so far this season, with three catches for 27 yards. But his 16-yard touchdown catch in Kansas City at the end of the first half in Week 15 was a turning point that sparked a Chargers comeback win.

Lambert-Smith spoke earlier this week about how he would assess his rookie season.

"I definitely take my whole rookie season as a learning curve. Some ups, some downs but it's all a learning experience," Lambert-Smith said. "I'll be ready to attack the offseason but obviously ready to finish the season strong and then into the playoffs and contribute any way I can. Just try and impact the team in any way."

Look for Lambert-Smith to make his mark on the offense in the regular-season finale.

"An opportunity to put their name on the map and get some real game film going, some evidence in the regular season," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman. "Not the preseason, the regular season. That's what people look at.

"It's really exciting for those guys, really excited to see how they respond," Roman added.

3. Kennard ready for snaps

Looking for a defensive rookie to keep an eye on in Week 18?

Meet Kyle Kennard.

The Chargers fourth-round pick had played just 25 defensive snaps before Week 16 when he played 11 against the Cowboys with Bud Dupree out with a back injury.

Minter said he liked what he saw from the young edge rusher in that game.

"He had an opportunity two weeks ago and I thought he played pretty well," Minter said. "Just another part of his growth is getting another opportunity, being ready and taking advantage of it.

"He put some great stuff on film to build his confidence … now it's confidence in himself, and from others, that he'll continue to grow," Minter added.

Kennard said that he's excited for the opportunity that potentially lies ahead on Sunday.

"Just being able to show what I can do out there, kind of a little bit of an extended opportunity than I got before. Just hope I make the most of it," Kennard said.

He later added: "Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. That's kind of what we've been living by, so if you do the same things every week, you'll be ready to play ... just getting ready to see what it's going to be like out there when it's my turn to turn up."

Kennard was a First-Team All-American and won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after a 2024 season at South Carolina that saw him rack up 15.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

4. Bounce back on special teams

Week 16 was an uncharacteristic performance as we'll hopefully ever see from the Chargers on special teams.

Cameron Dicker missed both a extra point and a field goal, with the latter going wide right from just 32 yards out. It was Dicker's first career miss from under 40 yards.

Chargers Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Ficken, who routinely praises Dicker's mental approach, said his kicker is keeping the same steady mindset after a down showing.

"Same conversation I would have with him if he did make those big kicks," Ficken said. "We got to go ahead and learn from it ... that's what we've done this week and move on.

"He's done a great job in terms of his career being here, not just this year but career and won a lot of ball games for us. He's going to continue to win a lot of ball games," Ficken added. "We learn from it from the film study, corrected it and now it's time to attack the next kick, just like we would have done if he would have made them."

Dicker has now made 37 of 40 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points this season.

JK Scott also had an up-and-down showing, as a pair of second-half punts helped set Houston up with short fields.

Scott produced 22-yard and 34-yard punts after halftime, something Ficken said will be a teaching point going into Sunday and then the postseason.

"I think that's just the way league is, the way players are," Ficken said.

"It's just resetting and making sure we get back to our technique and fundamentals, which made them so great going back and watching the good punts and good kicks from previous years, or this year, offseason stuff. Just getting right back to the basics with it," Ficken added.

5. Milestones to watch

Herbert enters Week 18 needing just 66 passing yards to reach 24,886 for his career, which would pass Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for the most in a player's first six NFL seasons.

But with Herbert not playing, he will obviously fall short of that mark.

Here's a look at other milestones and records to keep an eye on Sunday.

If rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden records at least three catches and 59 yards, the 2025 Chargers would be the seventh team since the turn of the century to have four different players with at least 50 catches, 700 receiving yards and three touchdown grabs in the same season. Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston have all hit those marks this season.

If Dicker makes three field goals, he will reach 40 on the year and breaking his own career high and team record of 39 made field goals set in 2024. Dicker also needs six points scored to reach 151 on the season, which would break his own career high and team record of 150 last season.

Finally, Del'Shawn Phillips needs one special teams tackle to reach 25 on the year, which would be the most by any NFL player in a single season since 2009. He also needs four special teams tackles to reach 28, which would tie Vikings linebacker Heath Farwell in 2007 for the most in a single season since special teams tackles began being tracked in 1994.