Week 18 has finally arrived, and the playoff picture remains unsettled. Multiple teams can still shift in the standings, leaving coaches to decide whether to push for better seeding or rest key players. The Los Angeles Chargers, currently sitting in the middle of the AFC Wild Card race, announced their plans for the season finale against Denver.
Will the Chargers Play Their Starters Today?
The first report arrived on Monday ahead of the Chargers’ season finale. Daniel Popper of The Athletic relayed a message from Jim Harbaugh, stating that Justin Herbert would not start against the Broncos in Week 18.
Herbert has been extremely banged up this season, specifically his hand, which has hindered his play. However, resting in Week 18 will allow him to be a full go for the Wild Card round. This news also puts Trey Lance in line to start, his first as a Charger.
On Friday afternoon, Popper mentioned the possibility of some of the Chargers’ usual starters filling a “backup role,” per coach Harbaugh. With NFL teams required to have a set number of active players on Sundays, multiple starters are expected to dress, but not see any action.
The team also announced that starting running back Omarion Hampton would miss Sunday’s contest due to an injury. Additionally, starting center Bradley Bozeman was listed as questionable, while starting tackle Jamaree Salyer was logged as doubtful. Had this game had higher stakes, these three may have pushed to suit up.
With the game just hours away, the team is expected to provide clarity soon on who will be active and who will be inactive, although veteran WR Keenan Allen has already made his intentions clear. He can earn over $1 million in incentives if he hits three receiving benchmarks against Denver, making it highly likely the 33-year-old wideout will take the field.
AFC Wild Card Race and Week 18 Implications
As it currently stands, the Houston Texans (11-5) hold the fifth seed in the AFC. Then follows the six-seeded Chargers (11-5), and finally the seven-seed Buffalo Bills (11-5). Due to each team having the same record, the seedings can easily shift.
The Texans host the Colts on Sunday, with Houston being heavy favorites. The Bills welcome the Jets, with Buffalo also a firm favorite. As for the Chargers, their path isn’t as easy. Los Angeles will head to Denver to face the Broncos.
The Broncos are currently battling for the top seed in the AFC and are tied for the largest favorite of the week.
Taking the spreads into account, the most likely outcomes are the Texans and Bills winning, while the Chargers lose and drop to the seventh seed. The seven-seed in the AFC would have the Chargers playing either the Patriots, Jaguars, or potentially the Broncos in the first round of the postseason, depending on how the final week of the season plays out.
After a week to regroup and recover, the Chargers could come out swinging in the Wild Card round. A healthy Herbert, paired with PFSN’s eighth-ranked defense, makes Los Angeles a very dangerous team down the stretch.
