Chargers playoff picture: Los Angeles clinches playoff spot with Colts loss on ‘Monday Night Football’

The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff spot on Monday without even playing in the game. The Indianapolis Colts lost to fellow playoff hopefuls in the San Francisco 49ers. The game isin Indianapolis featured former Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers as Indy’s starting QB.

Updated AFC standings

1. Denver Broncos 12-3 (clinched playoff berth)
2. New England Patriots 12-3 (clinched playoff berth)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 11-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-6
5. Los Angeles Chargers 11-4
6. Buffalo Bills 11-4
7. Houston Texans 10-5
8. Indianapolis Colts 8-7
9. Baltimore Ravens 7-8

How the Chargers clinched a playoff spot

Now that Los Angeles has 11 wins, they needed one of the teams in the AFC wild card picture to pick up their seventh loss to secure a playoff spot. When the Colts lost Monday, their best possible record would be 10-7 and they would be unable to match or pass L.A.

A Colts loss also secured playoff spots for the Jaguars and Bills for the same reason.