Eric Smith
Welcome back to the AFC Playoff Picture, a weekly look at wherethe Chargersstand in playoff chase.
The Bolts currently sit at 7-4 and are in a playoff spot as they enter a Week 12 bye.
Here's the look at the AFC playoff picture with standings, current playoff odds and a status update as we head into Week 12.
1. Denver Broncos (9-2)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:Bye Week
Status:Denver toppled Kansas City on Sunday and now hold a firm grasp on the AFC West as the AFC's current top seed.
Playoff Odds:97 percent (The Athletic), 95 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 97 percent (ESPN)
2. New England Patriots (9-2)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Cincinnati
Status:Make it eight straight wins for the Patriots, who are on track for their first playoff appearance since 2021.
Playoff Odds:Greater than 99 percent (The Athletic), 98 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 97 percent (ESPN)
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Kansas City
Status:The Colts were off in Week 11 and now had to Kansas City for a big-time AFC battle.
Playoff Odds:93 percent (The Athletic), 90 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 94 percent (ESPN)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Chicago
Status:The Steelers will look to stay atop the AFC North after Sunday's game against the first-place Bears.
Playoff Odds:28 percent (The Athletic), 39 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 49 percent (ESPN)
5. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Houston
Status:Buffalo rebounded in Week 11 behind a six-touchdown effort from quarterback Josh Allen.
Playoff Odds:92 percent (The Athletic), 92 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 90 percent (ESPN)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:Bye Week
Status:The Chargers will go into the bye with a sour taste in their mouths after a lopsided 35-6 road loss to the Jaguars. The Bolts still reside in a playoff position with six games left but have some work to do after the bye beginning with a Week 13 home game against the Raiders. With the way the math is shaping up, it might take 10 wins to get into the AFC playoff field. In other words, the Chargers playoff chase is in full swing after a much-needed weekend off.
Playoff Odds:64 percent (The Athletic), 60 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 63 percent (ESPN)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Arizona
Status:The Jaguars put together their most complete win of the season Sunday against the Bolts. Jacksonville now has head-to-head tiebreakers over the Chargers and Chiefs.
Playoff Odds:63 percent (The Athletic), 64 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 64 percent (ESPN)
8. Houston Texans (5-5)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. Buffalo
Status:The Texans have climbed back to .500 after an 0-3 start and are only a game out of a playoff spot.
Playoff Odds:23 percent (The Athletic), 33 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 35 percent (ESPN)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. Indianapolis
Status:The Chiefs sit at .500 with seven games left and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Playoff Odds:57 percent (The Athletic), 51 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 54 percent (ESPN)
10. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. New York Jets
Status:The Ravens have won for straight games to get to .500 after a 1-5 start. Baltimore is also favored to win the AFC North.
Playoff Odds:83 percent (The Athletic), 77 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 63 percent (ESPN)
11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:Bye Week
Status:The Dolphins have won three of four games but still hold longshot playoff odds.
Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 1 percent (ESPN)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. New England
Status:The Bengals have lost seven of eight games to fall back in the AFC playoff race.
Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and 2 percent (ESPN)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. Cleveland
Status:The Raiders lost by 17 points on Monday night, their fifth double-digit defeat of the season,
Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)
14. New York Jets (2-8)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Baltimore
Status:The Jets haven't made the playoffs since the 2010 season.
Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)
15. Cleveland Browns (2-8)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:at Las Vegas
Status:Cleveland hung tough Sunday but couldn't prevail late against Baltimore.
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 (1-9)
Upcoming schedule
Week 12:vs. Seattle
Status:The Titans nearly upset the Texans in Week 11 at home.
Playoff Odds:Less than 1 percent (The Athletic), less than 1 percent (NFL Next Gen Stats) and less than 1 percent (ESPN)
