Close
Help
Settings
Ravens vs Chargers NFL Week 16 Odds & Game Preview

Ravens vs Chargers NFL Week 16 Odds & Game Preview

Written by on December 19, 2018

NFL News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
Rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson faces what promises to be his stiffest test in the NFL yet on Saturday night, when he leads the Baltimore Ravens offense onto the field against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens are on the bubble when it comes to playoff contention at 8-6, while the Chargers (11-3) have already clinched a playoff spot but need to keep winning if they want a shot at taking the AFC West title (and the top seed in the conference) away from Kansas City. Can the Chargers keep up their dominance, or will Baltimore’s urgency to avoid playoff elimination help them mount an upset? Check out our NFL betting preview for this prime-time Saturday contest.

Ravens vs Chargers NFL Week 16 Odds & Game Preview

When: Saturday, December 22, 2018, 8:20pm ET Where: StubHub Center, Carson, CA TV: NFL Network Radio: WBAL 1090 AM Baltimore / KFI AM 640 Los Angeles Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Week 16 Odds: Los Angeles -6, O/U 45.5

Why should you bet on the Ravens?

Making the change at quarterback from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson may have saved coach John Harbaugh’s job. Baltimore has won four of their last five, including wins over Cincinnati, Oakland, Atlanta and Tampa Bay. Jackson has added a running dimension to the quarterback position that opposing defenses have struggled to stop. In the win over Tampa Bay, Jackson threw for 131 yards and a score and also ran for 95 yards. Tailback Gus Edwards led the team in rushing with 104 yards and scored as well. The Baltimore defense plays physically and gives the offense chances to win the game. Baltimore has covered in seven of their last 11 games on the road but just once in their last five games against a team with a winning record. However, over the last month they have emerged from an early-season slump and are going toe to toe with Pittsburgh for the AFC North title — with Cleveland breathing down their necks. A Ravens win would eliminate the Browns from the postseason and make it easier for Baltimore to take one of the AFC wild cards.

Why should you put your money on the Chargers?

Los Angeles rides in on a four-game winning streak, with victories over Arizona, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Kansas City, the last of which came last Thursday night. In that win over the Chiefs, the Chargers got two receiving touchdowns from Mike Williams, including the score that brought the Chargers within a single point with four seconds left. Williams also caught the pass for the game-winning two-point conversion. Philip Rivers threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns — but also had two interceptions. Tailback Justin Jackson led the running attack with 58 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers’ defense got stops when they needed them, bringing a “bend but don’t break” philosophy that has worked, week in and week out. Los Angeles has covered in five of their last seven games against teams with records above .500 as well as in five of their last seven overall. At home, though, they have covered just twice in their last seven games. The last three games the Chargers have won have been by close margins, which could make covering a six-point spread trouble. If you like the Chargers, you see their defense solving the Lamar Jackson problem and controlling the flow of the game, at least enough to win by a touchdown.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh by three, beat Cincinnati by five and beat the Chiefs by one point. I’m not sure that they can beat a desperate Ravens team by a touchdown. Rivers just throws too many picks at the wrong time to make predicting a more dominant win realistic. I see a final score of Los Angeles 27, Baltimore 24.
Help Center