Los Angeles Chargers

The NFL has announced the wild-card weekend schedule for Jan. 10-12:

Saturday, Jan. 10

4:30 p.m. 5 Los Angeles Rams at 4 Carolina Panthers (FOX, FOX Deportes)

8 p.m. 7 Green Bay Packers at 2 Chicago Bears (Prime Video)

Sunday, Jan. 11

1 p.m. 6 Buffalo Bills at 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS, Paramount+)

4:30 p.m. 6 San Francisco 49ers at 3 Philadelphia Eagles (FOX, FOX Deportes)

8 p.m. 7 Los Angeles Chargers at 2 New England Patriots (NBC, Peacock, Universo)

Monday, Jan. 12

8 p.m. 5 Houston Texans at 4 Baltimore/Pittsburgh (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ ESPN Deportes; ManningCast-ESPN2/ESPN+)

The AFC will officially run through Denver.

The Broncos clinched the No. 1 seed, the conference’s only bye, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a 19-3 victory over the Chargers on Sunday.

With the loss, Los Angeles will be the AFC’s No. 7 seed and head to New England for a wild card matchup with the Patriots.

Though the Chargers rested several starters — including quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Derwin James — the Broncos did not score an offensive touchdown. Kicker Wil Lutz hit field goals of 24,26, 41, and 23 yards. Ja’Quan McMillian also had a 45-yard pick-six in the first quarter.

Quarterback Bo Nix finished the contest 14-of-23 for 141 yards. He was also the team’s rushing leader with 49 yards on eight carries. R.J. Harvey rushed for just 28 yards on 15 attempts.

On the other side, the Chargers threatened a couple of times with backup quarterback Trey Lance behind center. But the club could not get in the end zone, with Cameron Dicker’s 30-yard field goal toward the end of the second quarter the club’s only points.

Lance finished 20-of-44 for 136 yards with a touchdown. He also had 69 yards on nine carries.

Denver did have an injury come up with left tackle Garett Bolles, who exited with an ankle injury in the first half.

Los Angeles cornerback Donte Jackson (ankle), edge rusher Bud Dupree (hamstring) and receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) also suffered injuries during the contest.

The Broncos will now get a week to rest, recover, and plan for a matchup with the AFC’s lowest-remaining seed in the divisional round. The club finishes the season at 14-3 — the most victories in a season since 1998, when Denver won the second of back-to-back Super Bowls.

The Chargers end the season at 11-6 for the second consecutive year under Jim Harbaugh.

The Broncos need a victory to capture the AFC’s No. 1 seed that comes with the conference’s only bye.

The Chargers aren’t playing several starters, which gives the Broncos an inherent advantage. But Denver’s halftime lead is just 10-3, and the club may have a significant injury concern at a key position.

Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles went down midway through the second quarter on run play with an ankle injury and is questionable to return. Bolles was able to walk off the field under his own power. Frank Crum entered the game at left tackle for Denver.

The Broncos took a 10-0 lead with Wil Lutz hitting a 24-yard field goal followed by a pick-six by Ja’Quan McMillian.

Los Angeles’ three points came late in the half, as Cameron Dicker connected on a 30-yard field goal with three seconds left in the second quarter.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was 6-of-10 for just 38 yards in the first half. He also is Denver’s leading rusher with 43 yards on six attempts.

Starting in place of a resting Justin Herbert, Trey Lance is 11-of-20 for 80 yards with an interception.

The Broncos will receive the second-half kickoff.

The Chargers are not playing several starters, but given roster limitations, some are out there for Sunday’s matchup against the Broncos.

Cornerback Donte Jackson was one of them, but he went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter.

Via multiple reporters on the scene, Jackson was helped off the field and went into the medical tent for further evaluation before heading to the locker room.

The Chargers announced Jackson is questionable to return.

The Broncos have a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter after a 24-yard field goal by Wil Lutz and a 45-yard pick-six off Trey Lance by Ja’Quan McMillian.

As expected, the Chargers are resting several starters in Sunday’s matchup with the Broncos.

If Denver wins the contest, the club will be the AFC’s No. 1 seed, earning the conference’s postseason bye.

Los Angeles will be on the road for next week’s Wild Card round no matter the result, which is part of why the club is opting to sit its starters.

Los Angeles’ inactives are quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James, defensive back Elijah Molden, running back Omarion Hampton, outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, and center Bradley Bozeman.

Trey Lance will get the start at quarterback for the Chargers.

The Broncos’ inactives are cornerback Reese Taylor, outside linebacker Que Robinson, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, offensive tackle Geron Christian, tight end Marcedes Lewis, and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.

The recent Philip Rivers unretirement may have been the beginning, not the end.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that “teams have been doing research” on the soon-to-be-former-for-the-second-time Colts quarterback as a head-coaching candidate. In the current cycle.

Rivers could get, per the report, one or more interviews.

Rapoport adds that it’s not the first time teams have kicked the tires on Rivers. Previously, he had not been willing to engage.

There’s no reason to think he will now. Rivers has said he’ll coach his son’s football team in 2026. And his son is going to be a senior.

It puts Rivers in a similar posture to former NFL tight end Jason Witten. Some throughout the league believe Witten is destined to eventually become a head coach — possibly with the Cowboys. For now, though, he’s coaching his son in high school.

Rivers could eventually make a Jeff Saturday-style leap to NFL head coaching with no coaching experience at the college or pro level. For Rivers, his 17 years (plus three games) of playing experience at the game’s most important position gives him a built-in advantage.

Few former high-level starting quarterbacks become NFL head coaches. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who had 140 NFL starts at quarterback and is in the Colts’ Ring of Honor, is an exception. (Better known as a coach at this point, Harbaugh was a Pro Bowler and got a pair of MVP votes in 1995.) Harbaugh worked his way up as a coach, however, from Raiders quarterbacks coach to head coach at the University of San Diego to head coach at Stanford before becoming head coach of the 49ers a decade after playing in his last NFL game.

Five of 26 Hall of Fame quarterbacks became head coaches: Sammy Baugh, Bob Waterfield, Norm Van Brocklin, Otto Graham, and Bart Starr. None finished their coaching careers above .500.

No franchise quarterbacks in the post-merger era of pro football have become NFL head coaches. Most simply don’t need the money, which likely makes them unwilling to embrace the grind of working for not much pay (relative to their career earnings) through the various layers and levels of the profession before emerging with the top job.

John Elway, of course, became the G.M. of the Broncos. But he never worked as a scout, hopscotching the country and grinding prospect tape in anonymity before positioning himself to get one of the top jobs.

Rivers has made more than $244 million as a quarterback. Would he take a quarterbacks coach assignment, with the goal of becoming an offensive coordinator and then, when the planets align, a head coach? Or would he be far more interested, if at all, in becoming a head coach or nothing at all?

Josh McCown, who was a finalist for the Texans’ head-coaching job in 2022 after a 16-year playing career with 76 starts, is in his third year as a quarterbacks coach — one with Carolina, two with Minnesota.

Jim Zorn, with 106 career starts, became an assistant coach in the late 1980s and eventually coached Washington for two seasons. (Zorn got three MVP votes in 1978.)

Rivers would be the rare exception, as it relates to true franchise quarterbacks who made many millions on the field, to enter the NFL coaching profession. And, like Elway, Rivers may be able to bypass the preliminary jobs and go straight to running the show.

For now, Rivers is reportedly on the radar screen.

It’s the final day of the regular season, and the playoff field is almost set, as 12 teams have clinched playoff berths and the Seahawks have clinched the top seed in the NFC. But much else remains in flux. Here’s a list of the teams remaining in contention for each playoff seed, and how they can earn those seeds.

NFC

1. Seahawks. The Seahawks get the No. 1 seed, a first-round by and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs after beating the 49ers on Saturday night.

2. Bears or Eagles. If the Bears win or the Eagles lose, the Bears are the No. 2 seed. If the Bears lose and the Eagles win, the Eagles are the No. 2 seed.

3. Eagles or Bears. The team that doesn’t get the No. 2 seed gets the No. 3 seed. The Eagles are resting their starters and effectively conceding the No. 2 seed to the Bears and preparing to be the No. 3 seed.

4. Panthers or Buccaneers. If the Falcons win today, the Panthers win are the No. 4 seed. If the Falcons lose or tie today, the Buccaneers are the No. 4 seed.

5. 49ers or Rams. If the Rams lose or tie today, the 49ers are the No. 5 seed. If the Rams win today, the Rams are the No. 5 seed.

6. Rams or 49ers. If the Rams lose or tie today, the Rams are the No. 6 seed. If the Rams win, the 49ers are the No. 6 seed.

7. Packers. The Packers are the No. 7 seed in the NFC and will open the playoffs on the road against the No. 2 seed, regardless of anything that happens in Week 18.

AFC

1. Broncos or Patriots or Jaguars. If the Broncos win or the Patriots and Jaguars both lose, the Broncos are the No. 1 seed.

If the Patriots win and the Broncos lose, the Patriots are the No. 1 seed.

If the Jaguars win and the Broncos and Patriots both lose, the Jaguars are the No. 1 seed.

2. Patriots or Broncos or Jaguars. If the Patriots and Broncos both win, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed. If the Patriots and Jaguars both lose, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed. If the Broncos win and the Jaguars lose, the Patriots are the No. 2 seed regardless of what the Patriots do.

If the Broncos lose, the Patriots win and the Jaguars lose, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed. If the Broncos lose, the Patriots lose and the Jaguars win, the Broncos are the No. 2 seed.

If the Jaguars win, the Broncos lose and the Patriots win, the Jaguars are the No. 2 seed. If the Jaguars win, the Broncos win and the Patriots lose, the Jaguars are the No. 2 seed.

3. Jaguars or Broncos or Patriots or Texans. If the Jaguars, Broncos and Patriots all win, or the Jaguars tie, thie Jaguars are the No. 3 seed. If the Jaguars and Texans both lose, the Jaguars are the No. 3 seed. If the Broncos win, the Patriots win and the Texans lose, the Jaguars are the No. 3 seed regardless of what the Jaguars do.

If the Broncos lose and Patriots and Jaguars both win, the Broncos are the No. 3 seed.

If the Patriots lose and the Jaguars win, the Patriots are the No. 3 seed.

If the Texans win and the Jaguars lose, the Texans are the No. 3 seed.

4. Steelers or Ravens. If the Steelers beat or tie the Ravens on Sunday Night Football, the Steelers are the No. 4 seed. If the Ravens win, the Ravens are the No. 4 seed.

5. Texans or Jaguars or Chargers or Bills. If the Texans and Jaguars both win, the Texans are the No. 5 seed. If the Texans, Chargers and Bills all lose, the Texans are the No. 5 seed. If the Jaguars win and the Chargers and Bills lose, the Texans are the No. 5 seed regardless of what the Texans do.

If the Jaguars lose, the Texans win and the Bills lose, the Jaguars are the No. 5 seed. (There are also scenarios that see the Jaguars as the 5 seed based on the strength of victory tiebreaker with the Chargers.)

If the Chargers win and the Texans lose, the Chargers are the No. 5 seed. If the Chargers win and the Jaguars lose, the Chargers could also get the No. 5 seed based on clinching the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Jaguars.

If the Bills win, the Chargers lose and either the Texans or Jaguars lose, the Bills are the No. 5 seed.

6. Chargers or Jaguars or Texans or Bills. If the Chargers, Texans and Jaguars all win, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed. If the Chargers and Bills both lose, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed. If the Texans win and the Bills lose, the Chargers are the No. 6 seed regardless of what the Chargers do.

If the Jaguars and Chargers both lose, and the Texans and Bills both win, the Jaguars are the No. 6 seed.

If the Texans lose and either the Bills lose and Chargers win, or the Bills win and Chargers lose, the Texans are the No. 6 seed.

If the Bills win, the Chargers lose and the Texans and Jaguars both win, the Bills are the No. 6 seed. If the Bills win, the Chargers win and the Texans lose, the Bills are the No. 6 seed.

7. Bills or Jaguars or Texans or Chargers. If the Bills lose, the Bills are the No. 7 seed. If the Chargers, Texans and Jaguars all win, the Bills are the No. 7 seed regardless of what the Bills do.

If the Jaguars lose and the Texans, Chargers and Bills all win, the Jaguars can be the No. 7 seed if the Chargers clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Jaguars.

If the Texans lose and the Chargers and Bills both win, the Texans are the No. 7 seed.

If the Chargers lose and the Bills win, the Chargers are the No. 7 seed.

The Broncos will have wide receiver Pat Bryant (concussion) and tight end Nate Adkins (knee) for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.

Both players remained full participants in Friday’s practice, and neither has an injury designation.

Adkins and Bryant were injured in Week 16 and did not play in the team’s Christmas Day win over the Chiefs.

The Broncos ruled out linebacker Karene Reid (hamstring) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hamstring). Reid had a week of full practices during his 21-day return-to-practice window.

Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (hip) is questionable after three limited practices.

The Chargers ruled quarterback Justin Herbert out for Week 18 early in the week and they did the same with running back Omarion Hampton on Friday.

Hampton will not play against the Broncos after sitting out of practice all week with an ankle injury. Hampton will turn his attention toward getting healthy in time for the team’s playoff opener during the wild card round.

Running backs Kimani Vidal (neck) and Hassan Haskins (concussion) are listed as questionable, so Jaret Patterson may be in line for plenty of playing time on Sunday.

Center Bradley Bozeman (neck), safety RJ Mickens (shoulder), and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder) are also listed as questionable. Left tackle Jemaree Salyer (hamstring) and defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring) are listed as doubtful while cornerback Nikko Reed (hamstring) has already been ruled out.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will not play in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Broncos.

The Chargers have already clinched a wild card, and head coach Jim Harbaugh said today that he’s keeping Herbert healthy for the playoffs. Herbert is playing with an injured left hand and has taken a beating this season.

Trey Lance will start at quarterback for the Chargers.

Harbaugh also indicated some other starters who are banged up will get this week off.

That’s good news for the Broncos, who only need to beat the Chargers on Sunday to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It’s also bad news for the Patriots, who can still earn the No. 1 seed, but only if they win on Sunday and the Broncos lose.

The Chargers will open the playoffs on the road in the wild card round, and Harbaugh wants Herbert to be healthy and well rested. If that means accepting that the Chargers are going to lose to the Broncos on Sunday, Harbaugh will take that.