Who to cheer for in Week 12: A Chargers bye week rooting guide

As Los Angeles enjoys their Week 12 bye, here is who Chargers fans should be rooting for in this week’s slate of NFL action.

This will obviously exclude the Bills’ match against the Texans, which has already gone final after Houston defeated Buffalo 24-19 on Thursday night. While Houston’s current impact on the playoff outlook is minimal, the Bills’ loss could be perfect for the Chargers, as they’re now equal in overall record. Meanwhile, Texans are still scheduled to visit SoFi Stadium on Dec. 27 (or flexed to Dec. 28).

As a refresher, here are the current NFL Playoffs matchups entering Week 12 (excluding the previously mentioned Buffalo-Houston matchup):

AFC:

No. 1 seed and first-round bye: Denver Broncos (9-2)

Wildcard Round:

No. 7 seed Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at No. 2 seed New England Patriots (9-2)

No. 6 seed Buffalo Bills (7-4) at No. 3 seed Indianapolis Colts (8-2)

NFC:

No. 1 seed and first-round bye: Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)

Wildcard Round:

No. 7 seed San Francisco 49ers (7-4) at No. 2 seed Los Angeles Rams (8-2)

No. 6 seed Green Bay Packers (6-4-1) at No. 3 seed Chicago Bears (7-3)

No. 5 Seattle Seahawks (7-3) at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)

Now onto the individual matchups for Week 12:

Indianapolis Colts (8-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)

While an Indianapolis win could vault the Colts into first place in the AFC, Chargers fans would much prefer the Chiefs to suffer another loss to further separate themselves from Kansas City in the division.

Preferred winner: Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Chicago Bears (7-4)

Given that the Steelers are lurking just one game behind the Chargers, it is clear who fans should be cheering for in this matchup. Chargers fans should be bellowing, “Bear Down” for this week.

Preferred winner: Bears

Cincinnati Bengals (3-7) at New England Patriots (9-2)

This matchup is fairly low on the Chargers’ list of concerns, as a Cincinnati win would do nothing but provoke laughter throughout the league at the Patriots’ expense. Meanwhile, a Patriots win would improve them to 10-2 and potentially put them at the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Preferred winner: Patriots, but it would be funny if the Bengals won.

New York Jets (2-8) at Baltimore Ravens (5-5)

Chargers fans will need to root for a miracle in this matchup, as a Ravens win would put them at the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture. Unfortunately, the Jets are one of the worst teams in the league, and the likelihood of winning in Baltimore is very slim.

Preferred winner: Jets

Seattle Seahawks (7-3) at Tennessee Titans (1-9)

This matchup has absolutely no impact on the Chargers, so fans can basically cheer for whoever they want.

Those who consider themselves a part of the “Sickos Committee” will want the Titans to win for the laughs, but a Seahawks win doesn’t really do anything for the Chargers either.

Preferred winner: Toss-up.

Minnesota Vikings (4-6) at Green Bay Packers (6-4-1)

This matchup also has no impact on the Chargers, as it is an all-NFC North clash.

Preferred winner: Toss-up.

New York Giants (2-9) at Detroit Lions (6-4)

NFC matchup, so there is no impact on the Chargers.

Preferred winner: Toss-up

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) at Arizona Cardinals (3-7)

This matchup has a bit of intrigue, as Chargers fans will likely be rooting against the Jaguars after last week’s 35-6 beatdown.

If the Cardinals win, the Texans would actually replace the Jaguars at the No. 7 seed.

However, if the Jaguars win, Jacksonville would move up to the No. 6 seed in the AFC, while Buffalo would drop to the No. 7 seed.

Preferred winner: Cardinals

Cleveland Browns (2-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)

While Las Vegas is a division opponent of Los Angeles, this game has absolutely no impact on the Chargers, as both the Raiders and Browns are circling the drain in their own divisions.

If fans were forced to pick a team, a Browns win would be the most logical of results.

Preferred winner: Browns

Atlanta Falcons (3-7) at New Orleans Saints (2-8)

Not only is this the NFC matchup that has zero impact on the Chargers, but it is also another “tank bowl” between two horrendous teams.

This game features the horrors of veteran and newly-named QB1 Kirk Cousins against rookie QB Tyler Slough in his Superdome debut.

Preferred winner: Toss-up

Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) vs. Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)

NFC matchup that has no impact on the Chargers.

However, Dallas could uncover some flaws in the Eagles’ defense, which could be fruitful as Philadelphia travels to face the Chargers on Dec. 8.

Preferred winner: Toss-up, but a Cowboys win would be intriguing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) at Los Angeles Rams (8-2)

While this matchup features the other Los Angeles franchise that calls Sofi Stadium home, it is another NFC matchup that poses no impact on the Chargers.

Preferred winner: Toss-up, but Rams if you have LA pride.

Carolina Panthers (6-5) at San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

NFC matchup, so there is no impact on the Chargers.

Preferred winner: Toss-up

After listing all the matchups, it is now up to you to decide who to root for on Sunday and Monday while the Chargers regroup ahead of their final six games of the 2025-26 regular season.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Los Angeles Chargers’ NFL rooting guide for Week 12

Who to cheer for in Week 12: A Chargers bye week rooting guide

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