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)
