Broncos

• Broncos TE Adam Trautman expressed that while the Chiefs might choose to rest their starters in Week 18, they cannot rely on that happening: “You kind of know all the scenarios and that definitely is something that we know about but you can’t really bank on it.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Trautman also recognized the possibility of Kansas City playing their starters: “Even if they do get the 1 seed, I think they’d still play their starters (at Denver). I don’t know how long (they would), for maybe a half, just because Andy Reid doesn’t want to give them 2 weeks off of not playing any football. So I’d be shocked.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Denver has a chance to secure a playoff spot in Week 17 against the Bengals. Trautman emphasized the importance of winning that game: “You want to get it done now. … The further along we go not winning a game, the more pressure there is because if something goes wrong Saturday, now you’re playing for your life.” (Chris Tomasson)

Chargers

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh reflected on his playing career and how he admires QB Justin Herbert‘s approach to the game.

“I guess the first thing that hit me was, I wish I would’ve treated those situations like that when I was a player,” Harbaugh stated, via PFT. “That’s the best way to do it. It seems like the weight of the world’s on your shoulders. It’s not. Go out there and enjoy it, and treat it like it’s pickup basketball. That kind of filled it in for me. That’s why he is who he is. I wish I had treated it more like that when I played. Now it’s good to have that example and be able to encourage others to do the same. That, ‘Let it rip’ kind of mentality. Which I love.”

Harbaugh remarked that Herbert enables them to play in a manner that is both “loose and focused at the same time.”

“We play better when we’re free and loose and focused at the same time,” he continued. “I think everybody plays better when they’re playing with joy.”

• The Chargers attempted to claim WR Diontae Johnson, but he was ultimately picked up by the Texans due to waiver priority.

Raiders

The Raiders ended a challenging 10-game losing streak with a victory over the Jaguars in Week 16, bringing some much-needed relief. Head Coach Antonio Pierce expressed his satisfaction in moving past the conversation of losing and emphasized their focus on blocking out external distractions.

“Yeah, it was good just to stop talking about losing,” Pierce commented, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “It’s all about winning. That was the song we were playing when we walked through the locker room. It’s always a good feeling because you put in all this work and to have repeated losses, and then put that to the side and just watch the team’s victory. What these guys are playing for, all this BS noise on the outside — like I told those gentlemen in there, it’s all about us. It doesn’t matter about the outside noise.”