With a loss to the Houston Texans yesterday, a few things happened in the AFC Playoff Picture.

For one, the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West division crown. The only way they were going to lose that was if the Chargers beat the Texans and then came to Denver to beat the Broncos.

For two, I believe the Los Angeles Chargers have all but solidified themselves in the 7th (last) spot in the AFC, ensuring the toughest path possible through the playoffs.

There is maybe some chance of them catching the Buffalo Bills for the #6 seed, I think, but that would likely require Josh Allen to lose to the New York Jets and that doesn't seem very likely.

So, the most-likely scenario is that the Chargers head into Wild Card Weekend having to win a game in either Denver (who they will have played the week before) or New England. That difference of opponent could very well be determined by whether or not the Chargers beat the Broncos next week (doing so would greatly improve their odds of playing them again the following week).

Despite the fact that they could, theoretically, move up in position, I would argue that the Chargers should....not so much throw the game as not put forth their best gameplan.

One thing that you probably don't want to give to maybe the best defense in the NFL, at least if you're playing against them, is a blueprint of how your team wants to play.

Actually, no, more than that. Playing the Broncos in back-to-back games doesn't just show their stellar defense what your offense wants to do, it shows them how you think you can attack them, specifically. 

It would be suicide to attempt to attack the Broncos the same way in back-to-back games. They're too talented and too smart. Even if it works in the Week 18 game, they'll turn the water off in the playoffs.

Since the second game is of significantly greater importance, I would argue that the Chargers should do almost the opposite of what Plan A would be in Denver next weekend, starting with a giant shift in personnel.

I'm going to say a thing and I'm going to ask you to think about it before you get mad at me.

If the Los Angeles Chargers make it deep into this year's NFL Playoffs, it will only be because their defense is great and Justin Herbert is playing at peak efficiency and efficacy.

Without that, I doubt there is any way for the Chargers to win against any playoff opponent, including the Broncos. Herbert is the key to them getting to their ultimate goal of the Super Bowl. There are other key players, but he's the most important one.

I would argue that any player that the Chargers can't beat the Broncos without should be benched this week. Partially to protect the blueprint but, more importantly, to prevent injury and to give Herbert time to rest/heal his broken hand a little bit.

Derwin James should also sit. Omarion Hampton, too, probably. Maybe Quentin Johnston and Khalil Mack. There are others. The coaching staff should take the 10-20% most important players on the team and tell them to show up feeling great to the NFL Playoffs in two weeks. Give them a bye.

Yes, that means I am actually pushing for Trey Lance to start against the Broncos. I understand this greatly diminishes the Chargers' chances of winning their last regular season game, although I would argue that maybe the curveball could be enough to throw a wrench into the works of the Broncos defense.

While it's true that Herbert and the Chargers won the game against the Raiders in which he broke his hand, and had won every game since then before yesterday, I feel like the situation is getting slowly worse and not better. More and more often, it looks like Herbert is bothered by the surgically-repaired hand. 

If the team can regularly win games with him like that, then maybe they'll have enough firepower to knock off the #2 seed in the AFC if they gave him a week of not having his hand crushed by defenders.