The Los Angeles Chargers can take some of the excitement out of the AFC playoff picture on Saturday by taking on the New England Patriots. Jim Harbaugh’s squad can clinch one of the two remaining spots on the AFC side of the playoff round with a win over the 3-12 Patriots, who struggled in a rebuilding year in their first post-Bill Belichick season. The Chargers – who enter Week 17 at 9-6 – have lost three of their last five games and are trying to build some momentum for an eventual playoff run that would begin on the road after the Chiefs won the AFC West. The Patriots have lost six of their last seven, but rookie quarterback Drake Maye has plenty to offer, completing nearly 70% of his throws in that stretch.

Saturday’s second game has some playoff implications in the AFC as the 9-6 Denver Broncos travel to Cincinnati to take on the 7-8 Bengals. Denver can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Bengals, who need a win to stay alive in the postseason hunt. The Bengals have won three straight, remaining 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 has its winning streak stretched to four Play ended last week against the Chargers.

In the NFC, the Rams can win the NFC West with a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night as they secure a tiebreaker over Seattle. The Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs last week with a loss to the Panthers. The Rams are finishing well, having won their last four games, but they have only scored 31 total points in wins over the 49ers and Jets over the last two weeks.

NFL Saturday schedule for Week 17

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