Bo Nix and Justin Herbert are keeping their attention on Thursday night’s crucial AFC West game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.
Both quarterbacks understand how important a win is for their playoff hopes.
Nix and the Broncos (9-5) have won four games in a row and would make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 if they win at SoFi Stadium.
Although a win in one of their remaining three games would keep Denver’s season alive for at least one more week, Nix is not thinking of it that way.
According to the NFL, if Denver loses, their chances of making the playoffs would drop to 85%. They still have games against Cincinnati on December 28 and Kansas City in Week 18.
“We’ve got three games to win three and go into the playoffs and win a Super Bowl,” Nix said.
Herbert and the Chargers (8-6) have lost three of their last four games, but a win, combined with losses or ties by Miami and Indianapolis, would secure their second playoff spot in three seasons.
“The past couple of games have felt like playoff games where they’re important and have that environment where at any moment something big can happen,” Herbert said.
“That’s on us to be able to handle that environment, continue to go through it, and realize the importance of these games.” If the Chargers win, they will have a 97% chance of making the playoffs, compared to 73% if they lose.
Los Angeles finishes the season with road games against New England and Las Vegas, and they are expected to win both.
The Chargers are aiming to sweep the season series for the first time since 2010, which would give them the tiebreaker if both teams finish with the same record. The Chargers enter Week 16 as the AFC’s seventh seed, which would mean playing Buffalo or Kansas City in the wild-card round.
The Broncos currently hold the sixth seed, which would likely mean facing the AFC North champion, either Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
“We know where we stand as a team, we control our own destiny. This Thursday everything we want is right in front of us and it starts with a division game,” said Chargers safety Derwin James.
