Chargers Playoff Chances: Looking at 2025 AFC Postseason Odds

Dec 30, 2025 at 07:00 AM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

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Welcome back to the AFC Playoff Picture, a weekly look at where the Chargers stand in playoff chase.

The Chargers clinched a playoff spot last Monday and currently sit at 11-5. The Chargers have multiple playoff seeding scenarios ahead of the regular-season finale.

Here's the look at the playoff landscape — with standings, current playoff odds and a status update — as we head into Week 18.

1. Denver Broncos (13-3)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: vs. the Chargers

Status: The Broncos can claim the No. 1 seed with a win in Week 18.

Playoff Odds: Clinched

2. New England Patriots (13-3)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: vs. Miami

Status: The Patriots can secure the No. 1 seed with a win and a Broncos loss on Sunday.

Playoff Odds: Clinched

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: vs. Tennessee

Status: The Jaguars can clinch the AFC South with a victory over the Titans on Sunday.

Playoff Odds: Clinched

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: vs. Baltimore

Status: The Steelers can claim the AFC North with a win Sunday.

Playoff Odds: 41 percent (The Athletic), 46 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 42 percent (ESPN)

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#0 | LB | Daiyan Henley

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#0 | LB | Daiyan Henley

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#1 | WR | Quentin Johnston

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#1 | WR | Quentin Johnston

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#2 | DB | Elijah Molden

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#2 | DB | Elijah Molden

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#3 | S | Derwin James, Jr.

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#3 | S | Derwin James, Jr.

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#5 | QB | Trey Lance

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#5 | QB | Trey Lance

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#6 | LB | Denzel Perryman

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#6 | LB | Denzel Perryman

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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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#8 | QB | Omarion Hampton

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#9 | WR | Tre' Harris

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#9 | WR | Tre' Harris

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#10 | QB | Justin Herbert

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#10 | QB | Justin Herbert

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#11 | K | Cameron Dicker

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#11 | K | Cameron Dicker

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#12 | WR | Derius Daivs

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#12 | WR | Derius Daivs

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#13 | WR | Keenan Allen

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#13 | WR | Keenan Allen

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#15 | WR | Ladd McConkey

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#15 | WR | Ladd McConkey

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#16 | P | JK Scott

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#16 | P | JK Scott

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#20 | CB | Cam Hart

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#20 | CB | Cam Hart

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#23 | S | Tony Jefferson

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#23 | S | Tony Jefferson

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#24 | CB | Benjamin St-Juste

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#24 | CB | Benjamin St-Juste

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#26 | CB | Donte Jackson

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#26 | CB | Donte Jackson

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#27 | S | RJ Mickens

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#27 | S | RJ Mickens

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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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#28 | RB | Hassan Haskins

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#29 | CB | Tarheeb Still

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#29 | CB | Tarheeb Still

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#30 | RB | Kimani Vidal

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#30 | RB | Kimani Vidal

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32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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#32 | RB | Jaret Patterson

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#33 | DB | Deane Leonard

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#33 | DB | Deane Leonard

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#40 | S | Kendall Williamson

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#40 | S | Kendall Williamson

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#43 | LB | Troy Dye

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#43 | LB | Troy Dye

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#44 | FB/DL | Scott Matlock

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#44 | FB/DL | Scott Matlock

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#45 | OLB | Tuli Tuipulotu

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#45 | OLB | Tuli Tuipulotu

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#47 | LS | Josh Harris

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#47 | LS | Josh Harris

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#48 | OLB | Bud Dupree

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#48 | OLB | Bud Dupree

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#52 | OLB | Khalil Mack

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#52 | OLB | Khalil Mack

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#53 | LB | Del'Shawn Phillips

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#53 | OLB | Del'Shawn Phillips

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#54 | OLB | Kyle Kennard

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#54 | OLB | Kyle Kennard

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#58 | LB | Marlowe Wax

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#58 | LB | Marlowe Wax

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#64 | OL | Trevor Penning

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#64 | OL | Trevor Penning

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#66 | T | Bobby Hart

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#66 | T | Bobby Hart

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#68 | OL | Jamaree Salyer

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#68 | OL | Jamaree Salyer

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#73 | G | Mekhi Becton

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#73 | OL | Mekhi Becton

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#74 | T | Austin Deculus

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#74 | OL | Austin Deculus

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#75 | C | Bradley Bozeman

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#75 | C | Bradley Bozeman

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#77 | G | Zion Johnson

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#77 | G | Zion Johnson

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#78 | C | Andre James

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#78 | C | Andre James

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#79 | G/T | Trey Pipkins III

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#79 | G/T | Trey Pipkins III

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#83 | TE | Tyler Conklin

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#83 | TE | Tyler Conklin

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#84 | WR | KeAndre Lambert-Smith

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#84 | WR | KeAndre Lambert-Smith

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#86 | TE | Oronde Gadsden

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#86 | TE | Oronde Gadsden

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#89 | TE | Will Dissly

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#89 | TE | Will Dissly

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#90 | DL | Tear Tart

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#90 | DL | Tear Tart

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#91 | DL | Da'Shawn Hand

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#91 | DL | Da'Shawn Hand

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#92 | DL | Justin Eboigbe

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#92 | DL | Justin Eboigbe

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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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#93 | DL | Otito Ogbonnia

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#98 | OLB | Odafe Oweh

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#98 | OLB | Odafe Oweh

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#99 | DT | Jamaree Caldwell

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#99 | DT | Jamaree Caldwell

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#7 | RB | DJ Uiagalelei

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#7 | RB | DJ Uiagalelei

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#31 | S | Marcus Williams

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#31 | S | Marcus Williams

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#34 | RB | Amar Johnson

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#34 | RB | Amar Johnson

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#37 | CB | Isas Waxter

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#37 | CB | Isas Waxter

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#41 | RB | Royce Freeman

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#41 | RB | Royce Freeman

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#49 | TE | Thomas Yassmin

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#49 | TE | Thomas Yassmin

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#50 | LB | Emany Johnson

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#50 | LB | Emany Johnson

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#63 | C | Josh Kaltenberger

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#63 | C | Josh Kaltenberger

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#67 | OL | Foster Sarell

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#71 | G | Branson Taylor

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#72 | G | Ben Cleveland

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#72 | G | Ben Cleveland

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81 | WR | Dalevon Campbell

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81 | WR | Dalevon Campbell

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#82 | WR | JaQuae Jackson

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#82 | WR | JaQuae Jackson

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#88 | TE | Tanner McLachlan

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#88 | TE | Tanner McLachlan

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#94 | DL | TeRah Edwards

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#94 | DL | TeRah Edwards

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#95 | DL | Kyle Peko

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#95 | DL | Kyle Peko

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#97 | OLB | Garmon Randolph

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#97 | OLB | Garmon Randolph

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#22 | RB | Najee Harris

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#22 | RB | Najee Harris

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#25 | LB | Junior Colson

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#25 | LB | Junior Colson

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#37 | CB | Jordan Oladokun

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#37 | CB | Jordan Oladokun

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#39 | CB | Eric Rogers

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#39 | CB | Eric Rogers

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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#42 | TE | Tucker Fisk

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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#46 | CB | Nikko Reed

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#69 | DL | Josh Fuga

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#69 | DL | Josh Fuga

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#70 | T | Rashawn Slater

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#70 | T | Rashawn Slater

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#76 | T | Joe Alt

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#76 | T | Joe Alt

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#67 | T | Savion Washington

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#67 | T | Savion Washington

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5. Houston Texans (11-5)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: vs. Indianapolis

Status: The Texans are in the playoffs and still alive for the AFC South.

Playoff Odds: Clinched

6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)

Upcoming schedule

Week 18: at Denver

Status: The Chargers are in the playoffs and will be a Wild Card team, but not much is certain after that. In fact, the Chargers still have six possible playoff opponents they could play in the Wild Card Round. And while Saturday's loss to the Texans was frustrating, the Chargers know they have a chance to end the 2025 season on a high note in Denver before turning their attention to the postseason. The date and time for Chargers-Broncos in Week 18 will be Sunday at 1:25 p.m. (PT).

Playoff Odds: Clinched