Chargers news: Updated playoff odds, injury update vs Colts, Chargers schedule change

The LA Chargers are entering the most important part of the season and everything has been breaking just right for the Bolts. Two weeks ago the playoffs looked unrealistic for the Chargers and now, the team controls its own destiny and is in a position that no fan could have expected.

Los Angeles is on the road in Week 16 to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. The Week 16 slate provided a lot of entertaining games while also giving Chargers fans everything they could have wanted for Christmas.

Before the Chargers take on the Colts, let's dive into our Chargers news roundup for Week 16.

Chargers news roundup:

• The Chargers' playoff odds have increased drastically and everything that needed to happen to clinch on Monday night happened in Week 16. The New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots all lost (with a Miami Dolphins loss sprinkled in for good measure). The Bolts will clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Colts but even in a loss, the team still has an 82% chance of making the playoffs, per The New York Times.
• The Chargers' injury report was almost completely cleared for Monday's game against the Colts. Kemon Hall is the only player on the injury report that will not play on Monday, meaning Derwin James will make his return after a two-week absence.
• Regardless of what happens on Monday night, the Chargers' Week 17 game against the LA Rams has been flexed out of primetime. The game was originally set to take place at 5:20 p.m. on Sunday Night Football. It will now be a 1:25 p.m. game, with Steelers-Ravens taking its place.

NFL news roundup:

• Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions against the Green Bay Packers to keep Aaron Rodgers' playoff hopes alive. Miami has now lost four in a row, giving the Chargers a great opportunity to at least secure the sixth seed.
• The NFL is investigating New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones for a potential illegal hit on Eli Apple from the team's Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jones threw an interception and then dove into Apple's legs down the sideline.
• Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season and potentially the playoffs as well. After Tennessee's loss and Jacksonville's win in Week 16, the Week 18 showdown between the two teams will determine the division winner, regardless of what happens in Week 17.
• The Denver Broncos confirmed on Monday that they fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett after 15 games. Hackett coached the Broncos to a 4-11 record.

The hope for the LA Chargers is that the team can not only clinch a playoff spot as early as possible but potentially move into the fifth seed as well. If the team can do that, they would face the winner of the Titans and Jaguars in the AFC Wild-Card round instead of the Cincinnati Bengals or Kansas City Chiefs.

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