ENGLEWOOD – The Los Angeles Chargers have sent up a bit of a white flag, but that hasn’t changed Sean Payton’s tune. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh announced Monday that the Chargers, who have clinched a playoff berth but know they will start out on the road, will rest star quarterback Justin Herbert as well as some other starters in Sunday’s game against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos (13-3), who clinched the AFC West when the Chargers (11-5) lost 20-16 Saturday to Houston, would lock up the AFC’s top playoff seed with a win. “Our focus is this is a playoff game,’’ Payton, Denver’s third-year coach, said after Wednesday’s practice at Broncos Park. “We’re preparing for all of them (who will play for the Chargers). This is more about us.” The Chargers will start backup quarterback Trey Lance. While Harbaugh hasn’t identified other starters in line to sit out, the Chargers’ injury report Wednesday listed wide receiver Keenan Allen, outside linebacker Khalil Mack and safety Derwin James as having sat out practice due to “rest.” The Chargers named six players on the report as not practicing and listed eight as limited. None of that matters to Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey. “You prepare for everybody,’’ McGlinchey said. “This is a massive game for us. It doesn’t matter who’s playing. We got to execute at a high level and we got to be prepared for anything.” McGlinchey was Lance’s teammate at San Francisco in 2021 and 2022 after he was taken with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft out of North Dakota State. Lance only got into eight games in his two 49ers seasons, primarily due to injuries, but McGlinchey saw plenty in games and practices that impressed him. “Hard worker,’’ McGlinchey said. “Love the way he came into work every day.” Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga also was on the 49ers in Lance’s two seasons with them. He went against him regularly in practice and is looking forward to facing him Sunday. “A lot of people are talking about this game being, ‘They’re resting their starters’ and everything,’’ Hufanga said. “But everybody is in the NFL for a reason. A lot of people discredit the fact that Trey Lance is coming in to play. This dude was a top-five pick and he’s going to go in there and play the best game he can.” Hufanga was impressed with Lance during his time with the 49ers before Lance spent 2023 and 2024 with Dallas in a reserve role and then became Herbert’s backup this season with the Chargers. “He’s a dual-threat quarterback who can get it done,’’ Hufanga said. “I’m a Trey Lance fan. … The dude has an arm. That dude can take the top off for sure.” Hufanga has been talking to other players on Denver’s defense about Lance. “Obviously, Herbert is a great player, but we are preparing the same as if he were out there,’’ said cornerback Pat Surtain II. “Trey is very capable. He was in my draft class (when Surtain went No. 9 in 2021). … We’re definitely not taking this game lightly. … We have to be sharp.” The Broncos have stressed all week the importance of clinching home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. If they are the top seed, they would get a bye in the wild-card round and would next play at home Jan. 17 or 18 in the divisional round. If they aren’t No. 1, they would host a wild-card game Jan. 10, 11 or 12 and then might have to go on the road with the goal being a trip to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif. “A lot of people don’t want to come here,’’ said Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton. “It’s a tough place to play.” If the Broncos lose, they still could be the top seed if New England (13-3) loses Sunday to Miami (7-9) and Jacksonville (11-4) loses or ties Tennessee (3-13). If the Broncos tie the Chargers, they would be No. 1 if the Patriots lose. Obvously, though, the Broncos want to win Sunday and remove all doubt. They are a 12.5-point favorite. “It’s huge,’’ Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said of getting the top seed. “I think that’s our main focus right now. … I think we put ourselves in a great spot, obviously. We just got one more to finish it.” That’s also the word from Surtain. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to be able to control our own destiny,’’ he said. “That will be huge for us a team and carrying that momentum moving forward. … We didn’t come this far just to come this far. I think that’s the motto and the mindset.” Payton has been emphasizing the importance of the Broncos getting the No. 1 seed to get “time off” with it being “a game you don’t have to play.” He is optimistic there will be an enthusiastic crowd on hand Sunday providing “deafening” noise. After all, Payton considers it to be like a playoff game. Never mind that Lance never has appeared in a playoff game and has yet to start a game this season. ...read more read less