Justin Herbert: This is a playoff game to us

With the Chargers and Broncos jockeying for AFC wild card position, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said he and his teammates considered Thursday night a playoff game.

Herbert said after the Chargers’ 34-27 win that the rest of the way, the Chargers are considering themselves to be playing playoff football.

“We talked about it all week, how important these games are especially in December and January, and we knew the implications, and we emphasized all week: This is a playoff game to us,” Herbert said. “It’s the environment, it’s the team — they’re obviously a very talented, incredible team — so for us to be able to pull away with one there, I thought it was awesome for us.”

Herbert has been dealing with an ankle injury and played with a brace, but he said he felt good all game. And he felt very good after the game, with the Chargers improving to 9-6 and on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth.