The Los Angeles Chargers secured a playoff position, the Denver Broncos did not and the Los Angeles Rams are almost there after Saturday’s NFL tripleheader.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes as Los Angeles routed the New England Patriots 40-7. By improving to 10-6, the Chargers secured a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs with one game remaining on their regular-season schedule.

The Broncos got a 25-yard touchdown on a fourth-down throw by rookie quarterback Bo Nix with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the playoff-clinching victory eluded Denver when the Cincinnati Bengals posted a 30-24 overtime victory.

Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted a pass at the Los Angeles 1-yard line with 37 seconds to play to preserve a 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Twenty-five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the NFL’s three Saturday games:

Los Angeles Chargers 40, New England Patriots 7

Patriots center Jake Andrews (Stanhope Elmore, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker (Alabama) was targeted once but did not record a reception.

Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (Alabama) is on reserve/non-football illness and not eligible to play.

Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) started at center for the Chargers.

Patriots guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) did not record any stats.

Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on four field goals, four extra points and two punts. Harris also made a tackle on punt coverage.

Patriots defensive tackle Marcus Harris (Park Crossing, Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Chargers safety Eddie Jackson (Alabama) did not record any stats after signing with Los Angeles on Monday. The Chargers elevated Jackson from their practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama) started at outside linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (Auburn) made six tackles.

Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones (Enterprise, Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Patriots safety Dell Pettus (Sparkman, Troy) made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.

Patriots linebacker Monty Rice (James Clemens) made one tackle on special teams. New England elevated Rice from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 46.0 yards on two punts, with a 38.5-yard net. Scott had a 53-yard punt returned 15 yards to the New England 37-yard line and a 39-yard punt for a fair catch at the New England 17.

Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (Troy) ran for 24 yards on five carries.

Los Angeles will close its regular-season schedule against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The NFL has not set the times and dates for its final weekend of the 2024 regular season.

New England’s season will end against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots have a 3-13 record and have lost six in a row.

Cincinnati Bengals 30, Denver Broncos 24 (OT)

Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (Spanish Fort) made one tackle.

Jordan Battle (Alabama) started at safety for the Bengals. Battle made five tackles.

Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (Alabama) returned three kickoffs for 98 yards.

Broncos inside linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley) did not record any stats.

Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) made two tackles, recorded one sack and registered two quarterback hits. The sack was the first of the sixth-round rookie’s NFL career.

Bengals safety Jaylen Key (UAB/Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Bengals guard Tashawn Manning (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Bo Nix (Pinson Valley, Auburn) started at quarterback for the Broncos. Nix completed 24-of-31 passes for 219 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Nix threw touchdown passes for 6 yards to wide receiver Courtland Sutton as Denver tied the score at 10-10 with 3:10 left in the third quarter, 51 yards to wide receiver Marvin Mims as the Broncos tied the score at 17-17 with 8:48 left in the fourth quarter and 25 yards to Mims as Denver tied the score at 24-24 with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter. Nix also ran for 31 yards on seven carries.

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Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) made two tackles on defense and two tackles on special teams.

Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) did not record any stats.

Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) dressed for the game but did not play.

Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made six tackles and recovered a fumble. Surtain caused wide receiver Tee Higgins to fumble and recovered the football at the Denver 40-yard line with 5:08 left in the fourth quarter.

Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt tied for the team lead with eight tackles.

Denver (9-7) will conclude its regular-season slate next weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. For the third game in a row, the Broncos will have the opportunity to secure a postseason spot with a victory.

Cincinnati (8-8) closes its regular-season schedule next weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. If the Bengals win that game and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs, Cincinnati would be in the playoffs – as long as the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts lose one of their remaining two games.

Los Angeles Rams 13, Arizona Cardinals 9

Cardinals defensive tackle Angelo Blackson (Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Cardinals wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

Cardinals inside linebacker Owen Pappoe (Auburn) made one tackle on special teams.

Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V (Ramsay, UAB) made one tackle.

Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Darious Williams (UAB) started at cornerback for the Rams. Williams made four tackles and broke up one pass.

Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama) started at inside linebacker for the Cardinals. Wilson made six tackles.

Arizona (7-9) will close its season next weekend against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Los Angeles (10-6) plays the Seattle Seahawks next weekend at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Rams have a one-game lead on the Seahawks in the NFC West, but Los Angeles could have the division title locked up before the game. If three of these teams win on Sunday – the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders – the Rams will hold the strength-of-victory tiebreaker over Seattle, which would allow Los Angeles to claim the division regardless of the outcome against the Seahawks next week.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.