Thursday Night Football features two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs go toe-to-toe with Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers.
With the AFC West division on the line in this one, the Chargers will attempt to atone for a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. A win would bring them even with Kansas City in the AFC West standings.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX, NFL Network.
LINE: Chiefs -3.5. O/U: 54.5
A lot has happened since the Week 1 meeting. The Chiefs won that matchup 38-28. After 13 weeks that win is all that separates these two clubs.
Following a Week 14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs (11-2) clinched a playoff berth and held on to first place in the AFC West.
With a 10-3 record, Los Angeles sits in the first Wild Card spot in the AFC. The Chargers rank a respectable sixth in the NFL in team offense. They are averaging 28.3 points per game. The Chiefs lead the league with 37 points scored per game. This matchup will be won on the offensive side of the ball.
This and That Plus the Prediction
The Chargers could again be without star running back Melvin Gordon, who has 13 total touchdowns despite missing the past two games and told reporters Tuesday that he expects to be a game-day decision. Backup Austin Ekeler sustained a neck injury and concussion in Sunday’s win over Cincinnati. He is expected to sit out. That leaves the possibility that rookies Justin Jackson and Detrez Newsome will carry the ground game.
Philip Rivers is third in the league in passer rating at 114.5. He has thrown for 29 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also has connected with wideout Keenan Allen with a scoring pass in five straight games.
Joey Bosa has four sacks in four games since returning to the lineup.
Patrick enters Thursday’s matchup with a league-leading 43 scoring strikes.
Injuries are also a major concern for the Chiefs. They are uncertain about the status of wide receiver Tyreek Hill with a foot injury. “hey also expect to be without running back Spencer Ware (shoulder/hamstring).
Hill torched the Chargers in the season opener with a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown and two scoring passes from Mahomes. The gunslinger also has passed for an NFL-high 4,300 yards.
Kansas City’s defense ranks 30th in total yards and is last against the pass by giving up 281.8 yards per game.
DE Chris Jones has at least one sack in nine consecutive games, the longest single-season streak since 1982.
PREDICTION: Chiefs 30, Chargers 20
NFL Betting Odds & Trends
| Los Angeles Chargers |
|---|
| LA Chargers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games |
| LA Chargers is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Chargers’s last 7 games |
| LA Chargers is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road |
| LA Chargers is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Chargers’s last 6 games on the road |
| The total has gone UNDER in 8 of LA Chargers’s last 12 games on the road |
| LA Chargers is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City |
| LA Chargers is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Chargers’s last 9 games when playing Kansas City |
| LA Chargers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Kansas City |
| LA Chargers is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City |
| Kansas City Chiefs |
|---|
| Kansas City is 12-5-1 ATS in its last 18 games |
| Kansas City is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games |
| Kansas City is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City’s last 5 games |
| Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Kansas City’s last 11 games at home |
| Kansas City is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing LA Chargers |
| Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Chargers |
| The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Kansas City’s last 9 games when playing LA Chargers |
| Kansas City is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against LA Chargers |
| Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against LA Chargers |
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