The San Francisco 49ers (4-4) hit the halfway mark of the 2022 NFL regular season as the picture of inconsistency. They got doubled up by an Atlanta team that has an iffy defense and can’t throw the ball down the field, but they have pasted the Rams by a combined 32 points in their two meetings and rolled over the Seahawks by 20. Next up is a visit from another unsteady team, the Los Angeles Chargers (5-3). This is a team that almost upset the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 2 and then turned around and lost to Jacksonville at home by 28 in Week 3. They have won four of five since then, but the wins have not been that impressive: Houston by 10, Cleveland by 2 (including a massive comeback), Denver by 3 in overtime and Atlanta by 3. The loss came at home to Seattle in 37-23 fashion. Which version of each team will show up on Sunday night? Check out our NFL betting thoughts on this prime-time affair.
NFL Preview: L.A. Chargers at San Francisco 49ers
(Sunday, November 13)
When: Sunday, November 13, 2022, 8:20 pm ET
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
TV: NBC
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Sling TV
NFL Odds: San Francisco -7 / O/U 45.5 // San Francisco -335 / Los Angeles +260
Why should you bet on the Chargers?
Some of the Chargers’ biggest issues come on defense. They have permitted six runs of 40 or more yards, the highest total in the league. They are also ranked #30 in the league for points permitted on the season. The 49ers have a challenging running game, so the Chargers’ front seven will need to be ready for another onslaught, and the 49ers have the benefit of the rest of the bye week.
On the offensive side of the ball, Justin Herbert’s numbers have faded a bit. He has gone four consecutive games without breaking the 300-yard passing barrier, and in the last three games, he has no completions featuring a pass going more than 20 yards in the air. Some of this has to do with injury troubles, as Keenan Allen has only appeared in two games, and Mike Williams will miss his second game with an ankle injury. Josh Palmer caught eight passes for 106 yards last week, but he’s the only downfield threat, so other teams can focus on him. Austin Ekeler is second on the team in receptions with 60, coming out of the backfield, and he picks up 4.4 yards per carry. The 49ers are tops in the NFL in fewest yards permitted per game, so the Chargers will have their hands full.
Why should you put your money on the 49ers?
The 49ers should be poised to go on a run now, coming out of the bye week and facing a stretch without a true road game until December 15. Their “road” matchup with the Arizona Cardinals will take place at Stadia Azteca in Mexico City. The 49ers absolutely won the trade deadline by snapping up Christian McCaffrey from Carolina. This took the running burden from Deebo Samuel but also gives Jimmy Garoppolo another option to catch passes out of the backfield. Against the Rams, McCaffrey had a touchdown pass, catch and run, showing his versatility, accounting for 149 yards from scrimmage on the day. Samuel returns this week after recovering from a hamstring injury.
If you like San Francisco, you see them using the bye week to figure out how to integrate McCaffrey into the offense even more fully, and you see the opportunity to heal from some injuries will have them fresh. The Chargers have won more games than the 49ers, but those wins are looking a little suspect given the margin and the competition.
Final Score and Prediction
I’ve been excited about what Justin Herbert would do in the NFL since the Chargers drafted him, but the team has yet to give him a defense that he doesn’t have to outscore. Key injuries to his top two wide receivers have taken a toll as well. I predict a final score of San Francisco 24, Los Angeles 17.
NFL Betting Odds
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