Broncos (5-9) at Chargers (5-9)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS
Matchup rating: 19.7 | Spread: LAC -3.0 (49)
What to watch for: The Chargers have won two straight, while the Broncos have lost three of their past four. With both teams out of playoff contention, all eyes will be on the young quarterbacks here with Chargers rookie Justin Herbert playing well and the Broncos still evaluating second-year signal-caller Drew Lock. The loser of this game could lock up a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL draft. -- Shelley Smith
Bold prediction: Expect a big day from Melvin Gordon, who didn't get the kind of game he wanted against his former team last month. He certainly will in this one. Few players have been better than him in the Broncos' offense down the stretch; he has rushed for 260 yards while averaging 6.7 yards per carry in his past three games. He has also caught eight passes during that span. -- Jeff Legwold
Stat to know: The Chargers snapped a nine-game losing streak in division games with a win over the Raiders in Week 15. They've lost three in a row to the Broncos. Herbert can supplant Baker Mayfield as the rookie with the most touchdown passes in history with just one more.
Playoff/draft picture: The Broncos and Chargers are both eliminated from the playoffs. FPI projects Denver to have the No. 13 pick in the 2021 draft, while Los Angeles is in line to pick No. 7.
What to know for fantasy: Think the Chargers exceed 20 points? If so, Herbert is to be labeled nothing other than an elite fantasy option, as he is averaging 26.2 points in such games (28 last week in Vegas). See Week 16 rankings.
Betting nugget: The Chargers are 4-14-1 ATS as a home favorite in the last three seasons and 9-20-1 ATS as a home favorite since moving to L.A. Read more.
Legwold's pick: Chargers 26, Broncos 21
Smith's pick: Chargers 20, Broncos 17
FPI prediction: LAC, 54.1% (by an average of 1.4 points)
Matchup must-reads: Drew Lock needs to get a grip on quarterback position ... Chargers' Chris Harris Jr. enters Broncos reunion on high after injury-filled season ... Why Broncos rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry III has played every snap this season ... Boring quotes, bad haircuts and stellar football: Assessing Justin Herbert's rookie season with Chargers