AFC wild-card standings: How Texans-Chargers Saturday game impacts divisional races, playoff picture originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Week 17’s NFL slate features several crucial contests, but none may be more important than Saturday’s game between the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers.
Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning in the AFC, making this matchup pivotal for seeding. The Texans got out to an early lead and didn’t let up. Houston won the game 20-16, to move to 11-5. The loss dropped the Chargers to 11-5, taking them out of the running for the AFC West title. Los Angeles will be a wild card team, as will Houston, which punched its playoff ticket with the win.
Here’s a look at how the Texans-Chargers result could impact the AFC playoff race.
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AFC playoff picture
Entering the weekend, five AFC teams had clinched playoff spots, including the Chargers, while four teams remained in contention for the final two berths. Both the Chargers and Texans were still vying for their division titles, but only Houston has a shot at its divisional crown with the win over Los Angeles.
The Indianapolis Colts were eliminated from playoff contention with the Texans’ win. The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the last two teams looking to make the playoff field, but both of them can only make the playoffs as the AFC North champion.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Denver Broncos* | 13-3 |
| 2. | New England Patriots* | 12-3 |
| 3. | Jacksonville Jaguars* | 11-4 |
| 4. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-6 |
| 5. | Buffalo Bills* | 11-4 |
| 6. | Houston Texans* | 11-5 |
| 7. | Los Angeles Chargers* | 11-5 |
| 8. | Indianapolis Colts | 8-7 |
| 9. | Baltimore Ravens | 7-8 |
| 10. | Miami Dolphins | 6-9 |
| 11. | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-10 |
| 12. | Cincinnati Bengals | 5-10 |
| 13. | New York Jets | 3-12 |
| 14. | Tennessee Titans | 3-12 |
| 15. | Cleveland Browns | 3-12 |
| 16. | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-13 |
*Clinched playoff spot*
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AFC wild-card standings
The Denver Broncos are the first AFC team to clinch their division. Denver clinched with the Chargers’ Week 17 loss. If Denver wins in Week 18, it will lock in the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Even with only one full week of games left, there is still plenty of movement that can happen with the AFC.
Division leaders
- West:Denver Broncos (13-3)
- East: New England Patriots (12-3)
- South: Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
- North: Pittsburgh Steelers: (9-6)
Wild Card
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
AFC West standings
The Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders both eliminated from playoff contention, and the Chargers and Broncos have both clinched postseason spots. With the Chargers’ Week 17 loss to the Texans, the Broncos clinched the division, and a top-four seed in the AFC playoffs.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Denver Broncos | 13-3 |
| 2. | Los Angeles Chargers | 11-5 |
| 3. | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-10 |
| 4. | Las Vegas Raiders | 2-13 |
AFC South standings
Only two teams are still in play to win the AFC South. The Jaguars currently have a half-game lead over the Texans. Jacksonville needs to win its last two games to win the division, or they need the Texans to lose in Week 18 while the Jaguars win one of their final two games.
Houston can win the AFC South with the Jaguars losing at least one of their last two games as long as the Texans win in Week 18.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 11-4 |
| 2. | Houston Texans | 11-5 |
| 3. | Indianapolis Colts | 8-7 |
| 4. | Tennessee Titans | 3-12 |
Texans remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV Channel |
| TBD | vs. Colts | TBD | TBD |
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Chargers remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV Channel |
| TBD | @ Broncos | TBD | TBD |
