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5 Things To Know About the Chargers Ahead of Week 16

Here is what you need to know about the Chargers as they head into a Week 16 road game against the Cowboys

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The Chargers are on a roll.

Here's what you need to know about the Bolts ahead of Week 16.

1. What happened in Week 15?

The Chargers earned a season sweep of the Chiefs with a gutsy 16-13 road win.

It marks the Bolts first sweep of the Chiefs since 2013.

The Chargers trailed by 10 points late in the second quarter before putting together a rally behind a defense that allowed just 239 yards on the afternoon.

Jesse Minter's unit also notched 5.0 sacks, forced two takeaways and allowed just 49 rushing yards against Kansas City.

Derwin James, Jr. secured the win with a last-second interception in coverage on Travis Kelce.

"When I was a kid, they always said defense wins championships. That's my motto," James said. "I believe in this defense."

Offensively, rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught the Chargers lone touchdown of the game in a gritty effort that also saw the Chargers run for 94 yards.

Add in three field goals from Cameron Dicker and Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh called it a "tremendous team win."

"It's a ball team. I'm starting to think of this as my favorite ball team I've ever been on," Harbaugh said. "And I've been on some good ones, but none better than this ball team.

"And when you have a real ball team, you know that you give it your best, keep getting better and you don't have to do it yourself," Harbaugh added. "Every other guy, there's 53, they go out there and play as one."

2. What is the Chargers record?

The Chargers are now 10-4 and have almost locked up a playoff spot with three games left.

The Bolts, who have now won six of their past seven games, are second place in the AFC West and one of five AFC teams with at least 10 wins.

The Chargers have now tallied consecutive double-digit win seasons for the first time since 2006 and 2007.

The Broncos won Sunday to improve to 12-2 as Denver also clinched a playoff spot with their 11th straight win.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, dropped to 6-8 and were officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Raiders were blated 31-0 by the Eagles and dropped to 2-12.

3. Who stood out in the win?

Aside from an opening-drive touchdown, the Chargers defense stymied the Chiefs for most of Sunday's win.

The Bolts defense was led by numerous standouts, including James and Daiyan Henley, both of whom had interceptions.

Tuli Tuipulotu and Odafe Oweh each had a pair of sacks while Khalil Mack also sacked Patrick Mahomes.

According to Pro Football Focus, Henley had the Chargers top overall defensive grade at 91.6.

Offensively, the Chargers did just enough in tough conditions, with Justin Herbert throwing for 210 yards against the Chiefs.

Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden recorded the Chargers best PFF offensive grade at 90.7 after leading the team with 61 receiving yards on four catches.

4. What are the Chargers playoff odds?

Sunday's win against the Chiefs was a massive one for Harbaugh's squad as the Bolts can now clinch a playoff spot in Week 16.

The Chargers are currently in a playoff spot as the No. 5 seed and first Wild Card team in the AFC playoff picture.

The Bolts entered Week 15 as the fifth seed and will stay there headed into Week 16.

The first two Wild Card teams — Chargers and Bills — each sit at 10-4, but the Chargers are the fifth seed because of better conference record (8-2 vs. Buffalo's 7-3 mark).

The Texans are currently the No. 7 seed with a 9-5 record.

According to The Athletic, the Chargers have a 96 percent chance to make the playoffs. ESPN has the Bolts with a 95 percent chance to make the dance while NFL Next Gen Stats has those odds at 92 percent.

5. Who is the Week 16 opponent?

The Chargers are on the road again in Week 16 as they play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Kickoff from Arlington, Texas is at 10 a.m. (PT).

The Cowboys are 6-7-1 following Sunday night's loss to the Vikings.

Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 15 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium!

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