The Los Angeles Chargers enter Week 18 sitting atop the AFC wild card standings with the No. 5 seeds. The No. 6 Houston Texans and No. 7 Buffalo Bills each hold 11-5 records, as do the Chargers, meaning some movement could still take place within the playoff teams in the season's final week.
Additionally, the Chargers' opponent, the Denver Broncos, are still playing to clinch the No. 1 seed. Both Denver and the New England Patriots sit with 13-3 records, and a win for Denver would clinch the top seed. If they were to lose and the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots would then take over as the No. 1 seed. This is why it's music to the Broncos' ears that the Chargers are sitting Justin Herbert in Week 18.
"Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh told reporters that QB Justin Herbert will not start Sunday vs. Denver," Adam Schefter reports.
This is also surprising because if the Chargers lose and the Bills win, the Chargers drop down to the No. 7 seed while Buffalo would then take the No. 5 seed. However, this could be the Chargers' way of avoiding the Baltimore Ravens if they believe Baltimore will beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to win the AFC North, basically saying they would rather go to New England to face the Patriots rather than play the Ravens in Baltimore. We'll see if this decision comes back to haunt them.
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