Questions from every Week 16 game: Is Worthy the Chiefs' most valuable receiver?

The Los Angeles Chargers hit the Denver Broncos connected "Thursday Night Football" to unfastened Week 16.

On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs bested the Houston Texans, 27-19. The Baltimore Ravens will besides look disconnected against the Pittsburgh Steelers pinch the AFC North title connected the line.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to each the action, answering lingering questions coming retired of each crippled and detailing everything other you request to cognize for each team. Let's get to it.

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DEN-LAC | HOU-KC

Kansas City 27, Houston 19

Chiefs

Is Xavier Worthy the Chiefs' astir valuable receiver? Who other could it beryllium astatine this point? The Chiefs went to Worthy 11 times arsenic a receiver and 3 times arsenic a shot carrier. He delivered 7 catches, 65 yards and a touchdown arsenic a receiver and 10 rushing yards. The Chiefs had immoderate timely contributions from different receivers, astir notably Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. But Worthy was their go-to receiver.

What we learned astir the QB today: Patrick Mahomes tin beryllium effective pinch his high-ankle sprain. He didn't person his champion crippled but was bully capable for the Chiefs to win. He scored the Chiefs' first touchdown connected a 15-yard scramble and besides had a 12-yard scramble connected the drive.

Most astonishing performance: Brown had a promising crippled for a subordinate who hasn't been successful a crippled since suffering a sternoclavicular wounded during the preseason. Brown didn't play a batch but caught 5 passes for 45 yards. One drawback came connected 4th down, different connected 3rd down. Both plays delivered the Chiefs a caller group of downs. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: astatine Steelers (Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET)

Texans

How will the Texans flooded injuries? The Texans mislaid 3 starters successful correct defender Shaq Mason, wideout Tank Dell and information Jimmie Ward. All look to beryllium agelong word injuries arsenic Ward and Dell had to beryllium carted disconnected the field. Losing Dell is simply a bigger loss, arsenic that's different limb gone for backmost C.J. Stroud. Wideout Stefon Diggs already suffered a play ending knee wounded successful Week 8 and now Dell is astir apt going to beryllium out.

What we learned astir the QB today: Stroud tin and will person to beryllium businesslike pinch Dell out. The only quality shaper he has now is Nico Collins. So whenever teams return him away, Stroud will person to return underneath throws, which he did against the Chiefs going 10-for-15 for 102 yards.

Biggest spread successful the crippled plan: In 4 retired of the past six games moving backmost Joe Mixon has nether 60 rushing yards. His debased accumulation is simply a consequence of the shuffling connected the violative line. The Texans are 5-2 erstwhile Mixon rushes for complete 100 yards but are 2-3 erstwhile he rushes for nether 60. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Next game: vs. Ravens (Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. ET)

L.A. Chargers 34, Denver 27

Chargers

Are the Chargers' protect issues fixable? After being 1 of the NFL's champion defenses for overmuch of this season, the Chargers defense has fallen disconnected successful caller weeks. That continued successful the first half Thursday night, arsenic the Broncos scored connected their first 3 possessions, the first clip a squad has done that to L.A. this season. The Chargers' biggest rumor has been connected 3rd down. Through the first 11 weeks, they allowed 32.3% of 3rd down conversions (second successful NFL), but from Weeks 12-15, they allowed 47.5% (27th). They adjusted against Denver, allowing six points successful the 2nd half and holding the Broncos to 5-of-13 connected 3rd down, a motion that their issues could beryllium down them.

Describe the crippled successful 2 words: Opportunistic Chargers. The Chargers took advantage of the Broncos' penalties; Denver racked up 7 penalties for 61 yards, while the Chargers had only 2 for 8 yards. A adjacent drawback interference punishment astatine the extremity of the first half, which led to kicker Cameron Dicker making the first adjacent drawback free footwear successful 48 years, turned the crippled astir for the Chargers. They outscored the Broncos 21-6 from that infinitesimal to triumph the game.

Early prediction for adjacent week: The Chargers defense will get its first shutout. The Chargers seemed to find a spark defensively successful that 2nd half against Denver and will look a New England Patriots squad adjacent Saturday that is 31st successful the NFL successful points per crippled (17). This could beryllium the cleanable large wind for a defense that has had near-shutouts doubly this play and a jolt of momentum up of the playoffs. -- Kris Rhim

Next game: astatine Patriots (Saturday, 1 p.m. ET)

Broncos

How large of a missed opportunity was Thursday's loss? It's much a rustle to the Broncos' psyche than their existent playoff chances, but the nonaccomplishment to the Chargers showed immoderate immaturity successful the large moment. The Broncos dropped from the No. 6 seed to the No. 7 (and final) seed pinch the loss, but they still person a 2.5-game lead connected the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins for that postseason spot. The existent interest is pinch how the Broncos mislaid -- a flurry of untimely penalties and an discourtesy that went tepid aft scoring touchdowns connected its first 3 possessions. Denver scored 21 points successful the first 24 minutes of the game, past six successful the remaining 36. The Broncos were fresh to extremity their eight-year playoff drought, which makes the loss, according to coach Sean Payton, "disappointing because location was a batch astatine stake."

Describe the crippled successful 2 words: Didn't listen. Payton has written it connected his telephone expanse -- "Run It!" And contempt the Broncos' early occurrence connected the crushed -- they ran the shot connected 7 of 10 plays to people a touchdown connected their opening possession, past ran it conscionable 14 times the remainder of the game. Payton continues to struggle to find a hit successful really he calls the tally crippled moreover arsenic he continues to opportunity really important it will beryllium for the Broncos. But he's not pursuing done connected his words.

Biggest spread successful the crippled plan: Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey came into the crippled starring their discourtesy successful receptions and receiving yards by a important margin. But the Broncos chose not to lucifer Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain II connected him and struggled to incorporate the damage. McConkey many times moved the sticks, catching six passes for 87 yards. "We dropped sum 5 different times ... you can't person 1 of their apical receivers not covered," Payton said. -- Jeff Legwold

Next game: astatine Bengals (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET)