This week’s installment of Thursday Night Football will find us at Arrowhead Stadium as the Kansas City Chiefs will host the L.A. Chargers. Even though the record between the Chiefs and Chargers all-time is close (Kansas City leads, 64-58-1), the Chiefs are one of just four teams to have a winning record against all of their divisional opponents, while the Chargers are one of just three teams to have a losing record against everyone else in the division. The Chargers are looking to change that with a revamped team around Justin Herbert and delivered in Week 1 with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders, but the Kansas City Chiefs walloped the Arizona Cardinals in their opener, looking like one of the most focused teams in the NFL. Let’s take a closer look at their midweek meeting from a NFL betting perspective.
NFL Preview: L.A. Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
(Thursday, September 15)
When: Thursday, September 15, 2022, 8:20 pm ET
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
TV: Prime Video
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Prime Video
NFL Odds: Kansas City -4 / O?U 54 / Los Angeles +175 / Kansas City -210
Why should you bet on the Chargers?
Justin Herbert looked sharp in the opener against Las Vegas, completing 76.5 percent of his passes and posting 279 yards and three touchdowns without a pick. DeAndre Carter and Keenan Allen combined for 130 receiving yards and a score. Austin Ekeler needed 14 carries to pick up 36 yards, as the Chargers struggled in the running game. The running game will need to do more to loosen up opportunities for the passing game if the Chargers are going to pull off the upset at arrowhead.
On defense, the Chargers are led by Khalil Mack, who had six tackles in the opener. Joey Bosa picked up 1 ½ sacks. The Chargers have only covered in three of their last 10 overall, but they have covered in five of their last seven Thursday games. Given how far back that sample goes, though, the more recent cover drought is more convincing.
Why should you put your money on the Chiefs?
Patrick Mahomes looked like he was in midseason form in the opener, completing 77 percent of his passes for 360 yards and five scores without an interception. JuJu Smith-Schuster combined with Travis Kelce for 200 receiving yards and a score, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the team with four catches. Isiah Pacheco led the team on the ground with 62 yards and a score. On defense, Nick Bolton led the way with 10 tackles. The Chiefs have covered in six of their last seven home games and in nine of their last 12 overall.
Final Score and Prediction
The line for this game opened at Kansas City -3 and has shifted a full point in the Chiefs’ favor. Some of this likely has to do with the injury to Keenan Allen, who had to leave during the opener. After his departure, the Chargers’ offense struggled, gaining only 48 yards over their last five possessions. Their defense held, though, and the Raiders were not able to come back and win. The Chiefs looked like they were playing at an entirely different speed and rhythm from what Arizona brought in Week 1, and if the Chargers stumble at all in the early going, this could turn into another track meet. With the Chargers traveling on a short week and having little time to fix problems from the opener, I see the Chiefs rolling again. I predict a final score of Kansas City 27, Los Angeles 17.
NFL Betting Odds
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