Chiefs throw the Chargers a lifeline right when they needed it the most

It's painful to admit it say it out loud, but the LA Chargers should thank the Denver Broncos. On a day where the Chargers were punched in the mouth by another AFC Wild Card contender, the Broncos upset the Kansas City Chiefs to send the Bolts a lifeline. Denver hosted the Chiefs as 3.5-point underdogs and didn't just cover: they won by a field goal. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid now find themselves with a 5-5 record, 3.5 games back of the AFC West crown. Winning the division is out of the equation. Making the playoffs is going to be a grind. This is a blessing for the Chargers, who fell to 7-4 on the season with the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Beating the Jaguars would have catapulted the Chargers into near-clinch territory. A loss brought the Chargers back down to Earth, but the Chiefs added some much-needed cushion. The Athletic's Playoff Upshot model gave the Chargers a 68% chance of making the playoffs after losing to the Jaguars. With a win, the Chargers' odds would have been 93%. That's neither