AFC Playoff Picture: Chargers Remain in No. 6 Seed Entering Week 10

Eric Smith

Welcome back to the AFC Playoff Picture, a weekly look at wherethe Chargersstand in playoff chase.

The Bolts currently sit at 6-3 and are squarely in the playoff field past the halfway point of the 2025 season.

Here's the look at the AFC playoff picture with standings, current playoff odds and a status update as we head into Week 10.

1. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Atlanta (in Germany)

Status:The Colts saw their four-game win streak snapped but still lead the AFC and the AFC South.

Playoff Odds:92 percent (The Athletic), 90 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 94 percent (ESPN)

2. New England Patriots (7-2)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Tampa Bay

Status:The Patriots have won six straight games and remain in first place in the AFC East.

Playoff Odds:96 percent (The Athletic), 89 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 87 percent (ESPN)

3. Denver Broncos (7-2)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Las Vegas

Status:Another week, another narrow win for the Broncos, who have four wins by four points or less so far in 2025.

Playoff Odds:87 percent (The Athletic), 90 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 89 percent (ESPN)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Chargers

Status:The Steelers bested the Colts on Sunday and will now come to SoFi Stadium for a primetime tilt against the Chargers on Sunday night.

Playoff Odds:58 percent (The Athletic), 62 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 59 percent (ESPN)

5. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Miami

Status:The Bills beat the Chiefs on Sunday, Buffalo's fifth straight regular-season win over Kansas City.

Playoff Odds:95 percent (The Athletic), 93 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 96 percent (ESPN)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Pittsburgh

Status:The Chargers won Sunday to pick up their sixth victory of the season. But it came at a cost as left tackleJoe Altwill now miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. So, where do the Bolts go from here? If we know anything, Jim Harbaugh is going to have his team ready to play, especially in primetime in a pivotal AFC clash against the Steelers. While Pittsburgh currently leads the AFC North, a Chargers win would also hold weight for potential playoff seeding purposes after Week 18.

Playoff Odds:75 percent (The Athletic), 69 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 76 percent (ESPN)

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Houston

Status:The Jaguars won in overtime Sunday and jumped the Chiefs to move into the final Wild Card spot in the AFC.

Playoff Odds:56 percent (The Athletic), 57 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 55 percent (ESPN)

8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:Bye Week

Status:The Chiefs fell out of a playoff spot and now have a bye week before a massive Week 11 road game in Denver.

Playoff Odds:73 percent (The Athletic), 67 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 75 percent (ESPN)

9. Houston Texans (3-5)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Jacksonville

Status:A win over the rival Jaguars in Week 10 would go a long way to keeping Houston's playoff hopes alive.

Playoff Odds:9 percent (The Athletic), 27 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 11 percent (ESPN)

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Minnesota

Status:Baltimore has won two straight and remains in striking distance of Pittsburgh in the AFC North race.

Playoff Odds:55 percent (The Athletic), 50 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 51 percent (ESPN)

11. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:Bye Week

Status:The Bengals lost another close game Sunday and now have their bye week to ponder the final eight games of the season.

Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), 4 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 6 percent (ESPN)

12. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at Denver

Status:The Raiders lost in overtime Sunday and now face a short week before heading to the rival Broncos on Thursday night.

Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)

13. Cleveland Browns (2-6)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:at New York Jets

Status:Cleveland holds slim playoff hopes coming out of its bye week.

Playoff Odds:1 percent (The Athletic), 2 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)

14. Miami Dolphins (2-7)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Buffalo

Status:The Dolphins and General Manager Chris Grier mutually parted ways after Miami's Week 9 loss on Thursday night.

Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)

15. New York Jets (1-7)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:vs. Cleveland

Status:The Jets will look for their second consecutive win Sunday after having their bye week.

Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)

16. Tennessee Titans (1-8)

Upcoming schedule

Week 10:Bye Week

Status:The Titans hung with the Chargers in the first half Sunday thanks to a pick 6 and a punt return for a score, but the Bolts overpowered an undermanned Tennessee in the second half.

Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)

More Denver News

Access More

Sign up for Denver News

a daily newsletter full of things to discuss over drinks.and the great thing is that it's on the house!