The Los Angeles Chargers are headed to the playoffs; the only question remaining is with what seed.
The Chargers went into Week 17 still in the hunt for the AFC West title, but a loss to the Houston Texans and a Denver Broncos win over the Kansas City Chiefs secured the division title for the Broncos.
Los Angeles heads into the final week of the regular season as the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. The Chargers can end up with the No. 5, 6, or 7 seeds depending on the outcomes of three games over the final weekend.
Here is an updated look at the Chargers’ seeding scenarios in the 2026 NFL playoff bracket.
MORE WEEK 18 NFL:
- NFL power rankings for Week 18
- NFL Week 18 picks, predictions
- NFL Week 18 picks against the spread
NFL playoff bracket
Here's a look at the current potential initial matchups for this year's playoffs:
Chargers playoff picture
The Chargers' playoff spot is beginning to take shape. The Broncos have clinched the AFC West, so Los Angeles is locked into a wild-card spot. The Chargers can earn the No. 5, 6 or 7 seed depending on what happens in Week 18.
Los Angeles winning in Week 18 would make the Chargers eligible for the No. 5 or No. 6 seed depending on what happens when the Houston Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts. Los Angeles losing in Week 18 would make the Chargers eligible for the No. 6 or No. 7 seed depending on what happens when the Buffalo Bills take on the New York Jets.
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Denver Broncos* | 13-3 |
| 2 | New England Patriots* | 13-3 |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars* | 12-4 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-7 |
| 5 | Houston Texans* | 11-5 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Chargers* | 11-5 |
| 7 | Buffalo Bills* | 11-5 |
| 8 | Indianapolis Colts - eliminated | 8-8 |
| 9 | Baltimore Ravens | 8-8 |
| 10 | Miami Dolphins - eliminated | 7-9 |
| 11 | Cincinnati Bengals - eliminated | 6-10 |
| 12 | Kansas City Chiefs - eliminated | 6-10 |
| 13 | Cleveland Browns - eliminated | 4-12 |
| 14 | Tennessee Titans - eliminated | 3-13 |
| 15 | New York Jets - eliminated | 3-13 |
| 16 | Las Vegas Raiders - eliminated | 2-14 |
*=clinched playoff spot
MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order
AFC West standings
The Broncos have clinched the AFC West and are locked into a top-four playoff seed. Los Angeles will finish second in the division, regardless of what happens in Week 18.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 12-4 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Chargers | 11-5 |
| 3 | Kansas City Chiefs - eliminated | 6-10 |
| 4 | Las Vegas Raiders - eliminated | 2-14 |
Chargers clinching scenarios
The Chargers have already clinched a playoff berth. Due to their Week 17 loss to the Houston Texans and the Broncos' win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles can no longer win the AFC West. This means the Chargers are locked into a wild-card spot and will go on the road for at least the first round of the playoffs.
Los Angeles can be the No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7 seed. The Chargers are currently the No. 6 seed, and a loss in Week 18 to the Broncos would lock them into either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, depending on what happens with the Bills game. If Los Angeles beats Denver in Week 18, then it depends on what happens with the Texans. If the Texans lose in Week 18 and the Chargers win, Los Angeles will earn the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and go on the road in the first round to take on the AFC North winner.