Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season kicks off with a massive AFC West showdown between two teams fighting for their Wild Card seeding.
The Denver Broncos (9-5) are heading to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) in a game with major playoff implications.
The Broncos and Chargers already met once this year in Week 6, when the Chargers won 23-16 in Denver.
The Broncos enter this matchup hot, winners of four straight games, albeit against lesser opponents (Atlanta, Las Vegas, Cleveland, and Indianapolis). The Chargers, on the flip side, have lost two consecutive games, and need a win to maintain their comfortable status in the Wild Card picture.
Will the Broncos essentially clinch a playoff spot with a win, or will the Chargers make the Wild Card race that much more interesting? The staff at Newsweek Sports has their predictions.
Noah Camras: The Chargers and Broncos enter this Week 16 matchup in pretty comfortable positions in the AFC playoff picture. The Broncos have a 93 percent chance of making the playoffs, while the Chargers have an 88 percent chance of making the playoffs, per ESPN's analytics. This game is massive for the seeding, though, and will be a battle, just as the game was in Week 6. While the Broncos are hotter, it will be the Chargers that sweep the season series and get into a great position for a higher seed in the Wild Card picture.
Prediction: Chargers 26, Broncos 23
Matt Levine: Both teams come in needing a win to keep pace atop the AFC Wild Card race. Los Angeles won the first meeting between these two teams and will now be looking for the sweep. The Chargers are coming off a loss last week and will try to redeem themselves against a division rival. Denver has been surging of late, but with a rookie quarterback under center, anything can happen. Look for the Bolts to take charge and grab a massive win late in the year.
Prediction: Chargers 23, Broncos 20
Ricardo Sandoval: This AFC West matchup has significant playoff implications in this crucial AFC battle. The Broncos will travel to L.A. for the first and only time this season and look to get revenge on their division rivals in the Chargers. The Chargers pulled off the win in Denver earlier in the season, and I think the Chargers will pull it off again in front of their home crowd after their embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Prediction: Chargers 23, Broncos 17
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