The Chargers and Chiefs played an exciting contest earlier in the year and will meet for their AFC West rematch on Sunday Night Football. Injuries are an important story for this game and might have a significant role in deciding the contest’s outcome. So where should bettors wager their money on the Sunday Night Football clash? Let’s run through our Chargers vs. Chiefs predictions, odds, and best bets below.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriots | +2.5 (-105) | +120 | O 42.5 (-110) |
| @ Vikings | -2.5 (-115) | -140 | U 42.5(-110) |
Odds via BetMGM Sportsbook as of 9 p.m. ET on Nov. 18. Don’t have an account? View our BetMGM Review to maximize your welcome offer up to $1,000.
Game Info
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 20
- Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, CA
- TV: NBC
Chargers vs. Chiefs Trends
- The Chiefs were 7-point favorites to begin the week, but the line has progressively slid a half-point at a time, bottoming out at a 5.0-point spread before ticking back up to its present 5.5-point spread.
- The Chargers are 5-1 in their last six games after allowing more than 150 rushing yards in the previous game.
- Los Angeles is 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games after amassing less than 90 rushing yards in their previous game.
- The Chargers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games following a straight-up loss.
- The Chiefs are 1-3-1 against the spread in their last five games.
- Kansas City is 1-4 against the spread versus a team with a winning record.
- The Chiefs are 0-5-1 against the spread in their last six games following a straight-up win.
- Kansas City is 0-6-1 against the spread in their last seven games against the AFC.
Chargers Are Getting Healthy On Offense
No, stud second-year left tackle Rashawn Slater isn’t walking through the door to reprise his role as Justin Herbert’s blindside protector. Fortunately, Herbert has done an elite job of avoiding sacks, even though his superstar left tackle is out for the year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, Herbert has the lowest sack rate (3.0%) among qualified quarterbacks this season.
The rocket-armed quarterback might be getting not one but two pass-catching weapons back this week. Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are listed as questionable but were full participants in Friday’s practice.
full chiefs-chargers injury report pic.twitter.com/AGJ0F5C1qO
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 18, 2022
The Chargers have yet to play a complete contest this year with Allen and Williams healthy. So, understandably, their offense has been inconsistent.
According to Football Outsiders, Los Angeles is just 24th in total offense Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA). However, they’re tied for 16th in scoring offense (22.2), which isn’t too shabby when factoring in the absences of Allen for almost all of this year and Williams for two contests.
Williams was a nightmare for the Chiefs in Week 2, hauling in eight receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. His return would be massive for Los Angeles’s offensive outlook, and getting Allen back could take the Chargers’ offense to a level we haven’t seen yet this year.
Chiefs Are Without Two Pass-Catchers
Patrick Mahomes is working on an MVP-caliber campaign, and Kansas City’s offense is a well-oiled machine. They’re first in total offense DVOA and scoring offense (30.0 points per game).
Unfortunately, a rejuvenated JuJu Smith-Schuster and blossoming Mecole Hardman are out. However, recent trade acquisition Kadarius Toney added a spark to the offense last week, albeit as a rotational part of the offense instead of a full-time starter. Maybe, he’ll be further acclimated to the offense this week.
Still, Kansas City’s offensive strength is through the air, and being without Smith-Schuster and Hardman is suboptimal. Further, the Chiefs are just 20th in rush offense DVOA. Kansas City’s lackluster rush offense might not be capable of taking advantage of the Chargers ranking 29th in rush defense DVOA. It’s unlikely a Mahomes-led offense will completely flounder, but they might not be their usually elite self at less than full strength for this contest.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Predictions
The Chiefs beat the Chargers 27-24 in Week 2 in Kansas City on Thursday Night Football. The three-point margin of victory was small and remarkably still fails to capture how close the game actually was. Herbert threw a costly 99-yard pick-six when targeting a gassed Gerald Everett, who attempted to check himself out of the game before the game-changing error.
THE ROOK WITH A 99-YARD PICK SIX‼️ @jaylenwatson12 pic.twitter.com/fNZkRQL1wU
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 16, 2022
I expect this to be another hotly contested battle and believe the Chargers are live underdogs. Nevertheless, I’d rather take the points than bet against Mahomes dragging the Chiefs to a victory. As a result, I’ll take the 5.5 points for the hosts.
Pick: Chargers +5.5 | -110 at BetMGM Sportsbook