Ian Casselberry
NFL Week 17 Saturday: Rams outlast Cardinals, Bengals defeat Broncos to contend for AFC's final playoff spot, Chargers clinch playoffs with win over Patriots
Playoff spots were on the line in three Week 17 Saturday matchups around the NFL
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.
The Denver Broncos had an opportunity to clinch that final spot, but lost 30–24 to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Cincinnati has won four consecutive games and is thus still alive for that last playoff bid in the AFC at 8–8. Joe Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards and took the league lead in touchdown passes with his two scoring throws. Denver drops to 9–7 and has lost two in a row.
In the NFC, the Rams could clinch the NFC West after defeating the Arizona Cardinals, 13–9, thanks to winning 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 five games, but they've averaged 14.6 points in wins over the 49ers, Jets and Cardinals over the past three weeks.
Week 17 NFL Saturday schedule
All games on NFL Network
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