The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff spot on Saturday with a dominant 40-7 win over the New England Patriots in a rainy Foxboro. Six of the seven AFC playoff spots are now secure with the final place in the postseason up for grabs.
Saturday’s second game has some playoff implications in the AFC as the 9-6 Denver Broncos head to Cincinnati to take on the 7-8 Bengals. Denver can wrap up a playoff berth with a win over the Bengals, who need a win to stay alive in the postseason hunt. The Bengals have won three in a row to stay in it behind one of the league’s most explosive offenses — Joe Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards and is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes — while Denver had its four-game win streak end last week against the Chargers.
In the NFC, the Rams can win the NFC West with a win over the Arizona Cardinals Saturday night, thanks to clinching a strength-of-victory tie-breaker over Seattle. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention last week with a loss to the Panthers. The Rams are closing well, having won their last four games, but they’ve scored just 31 total points in wins over the 49ers and Jets over the past two weeks.
Week 17 NFL Saturday scheduleAll games on NFL Network
Live40 updates
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 2:15 PM PST
Zach Allen gets 6th sack of the season
Zach Allen sacks Joe Burrow on 1st-and-10 from the Denver 49-yard line.
That is Allen’s sixth sack of the year, which is a career-high.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 2:12 PM PST
Mike Gesicki hurdles for a first down
Mike Gesicki gets a first down for the Bengals after hurdling over Riley Moss.
Moss appeared to take a knee to the head on the play. NFL Network cameras showed an assistant trainer talking to him as he walked down the field at the end of the first quarter.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 2:06 PM PST
Broncos punt on next drive
A false start penalty on Quinn Meinerz stalls Denver’s next drive at its 33-yard line. The Broncos gain nine yards on their next three plays, but can’t get the first down.
Riley Dixon punts 40 yards and the Bengals take over at their 27 after a four-yard return by Isaiah Williams.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 1:58 PM PST
Bengals short on 4th-and-1 from the 22-yard line
Cincinnati drives to the Broncos’ 22-yard line in the first 10 plays of its opening possession. Chase Brown gains two yards on 3rd-and-3, and Cincinnati goes for it on fourth down.
But Denver’s Nik Bonitto stuffs Brown on 4th-and-1 and the Bengals turn it over on downs.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 1:45 PM PST
Field goal: Broncos 3, Bengals 0
Denver drives 58 yards in 10 plays on its first possession of the game. The Broncos have to settle for a field goal after Bo Nix throws an incomplete pas on 3rd-and-2 from the Cincinnati 12-yard line.
Wil Lutz kicks a 30-yarder to give Denver a 3–0 lead.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 1:41 PM PST
Joe Burrow is unworried about Denver CB Patrick Surtain III
Joe Burrow won’t let Patrick Surtain III deter him from throwing at Ja’Marr Chase.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 1:34 PM PST
Joe Burrow and Bo Nix warming up before the game
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 1:10 PM PST
Inactives for Bengals vs. Broncos
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:52 PM PST
Chargers beat Patriots, 40-7, clinch AFC playoff spot
Read more about the Chargers’ dominant win here.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:51 PM PST
Cameron Dicker nails his fourth field goal of the day
A 35-yard hit gives the Chargers a 40-7 lead with 3:51 to play in the game.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:50 PM PST
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:43 PM PST
Justin Herbert’s day is done
Taylor Heinicke has entered the game. Herbert finishes with 281 passing yards and three touchdowns.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:30 PM PST
Chargers add another TD, go up 37-7
J.K. Dobbins picks up his ninth touchdown this season on a 2-yard run.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:24 PM PST
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:21 PM PST
Another sack for Derwin James
The Chargers stop the Patriots on fourth down up 30-7 late in the third quarter.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 12:06 PM PST
Chargers go up 30-7
Cameron Dicker hits his third field goal of the game, a 41-yard effort, to extend the LA lead over the Patriots.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 11:59 AM PST
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 11:57 AM PST
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 11:57 AM PST
Another TD for Ladd McConkey
Herbert and the rookie receiver connect for a 40-yard score as the Chargers take a commanding 27-7 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.
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Sat, December 28, 2024 at 11:44 AM PST
Derius Davis’ punt return for TD called back due to two Chargers penalties
Illegal block in the back and holding penalties take a potential touchdown away from the Chargers.
LA still leads 20-7 in the third quarter.
