The Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 17 of NFL action.
The Chiefs are looking to get a first-round bye in the playoffs and they need a win over the Chargers to at least get a chance to accomplish their task. Aside from winning this game, Los Angeles needs the New England Patriots to lose to the lowly Miami Dolphins next week. The Chargers are out of playoff contention and they are spiraling on a downward trend. Los Angeles has lost five out of their last six games played, including the last two.
Dropped Five of Last Six
The Los Angeles Chargers are out of the playoff equation and they have dropped five out of their last six games played. The Chargers lost 17-24 to the Oakland Raiders last weekend to fall to 5-10 SU on the season. Los Angeles only accounted for 19 total rushing yards and they have scored over 20 points just once in their last five games played.
Philip Rivers has passed for 4,334 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and 18 interceptions but he may have played his last home game for the Chargers. Melvin Gordon leads the Chargers with 566 rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns while Keenan Allen has caught a total of 1,117 receiving yards with five TD grabs.
The Chargers rank 6th overall in passing at 277.9 passing yards on the season. They are ranked 27th on the ground with an average of 89.7 rushing yards per contest. Los Angeles is 21st in scoring at 21.1 points per game and they are allowing their opponents to score an average of 20.9 points per game this season.
Looking For a Bye
The Kansas City Chiefs have already punched their ticket to the 2019 NFL Playoffs. But the Chiefs want more and are looking for a bye in round one of the playoffs. To do that, the Chiefs need to win out and they also need the New England Patriots to lose to the Miami Dolphins for them to overtake New England for the 2nd seed in the AFC.
Patrick Mahomes is having another terrific season. The reigning NFL MVP has passed for a total of 3,857 passing yards with a total of 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions. LeSean McCoy leads the team in rushing at 465 yards with four touchdowns while Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs with 1,205 receiving yards.
Kansas City ranks 4th in passing at 288.3 passing yards per game. They are 23rd on the ground with an average of 93.8 rushing yards per game. The Chiefs are 4th in the NFL in scoring at 28.0 points per game and they are giving up an average of 19.1 points per contest this season.
Who Wins?
The Chargers are 1-5 SU in their last six games played. Los Angeles is 3-4 SU in their seven road games played this season, and 0-5 SU in their last five games played against the AFC West Division. The Chiefs are 5-0 SU in their last five games played. Kansas City is 4-3 SU in seven home games played. Head to head, the Chiefs are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played against the Chargers. Kansas City is also 4-1 SU in their last five home games played against Los Angeles.
Los Angeles has scored 20 or fewer points in four out of their last five games and seven out of their last 10 assignments. Philip Rivers has an expiring contract and he may have played his final home game in Los Angeles. Rivers has thrown the second-most interceptions by a quarterback this season.
The Chiefs have a chance for a round-one bye, giving this game bearing to them. Kansas City is still expected to start Patrick Mahomes in this contest although even if they don’t their defense should be able to take care of business for them. Terrell Suggs picked up three sacks in his KC debut and running back Damien Williams returned from injury.
These are two teams going in opposite directions. Kansas City is looking for a first-round bye but aside from picking up a win over the Chargers, they need the Patriots to lose to the Dolphins. The Chargers have lost five out of their last six games and they have won just once in their last 11 tries against Kansas City.
Prediction: Kansas City Chiefs
Other Bets To Make
The LA Chargers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games played. The Chargers are 3-4 ATS in seven road games played this year, and 1-7 ATS in their last eight games played against the AFC. Kansas City is 5-0 ATS in their last five games played. The Chiefs are 4-3 ATS in seven home games played this season, and 5-0 ATS in their last five December games. Head to head, the Chiefs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Chargers.
Chargers
+8 (-105)
Chiefs
-8 (-115)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 12/24/19
The Chargers are 1-5 SU and ATS in their last six games played and there are talks that Rivers may have played his last home game in a Chargers’ uniform. On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs have been spotless in their last five outings, going 5-0 SU and ATS in those games. The Chiefs’ defense has been terrific during that period, holding their opponents to an average of below 10 points per game. I like the Chiefs to win by double digits here.
Prediction: Chiefs -8
The total has gone over in four out of the last six games played by the Chargers. The over is 4-1 in their last five games played on the road. The total has gone under in each of the last five games played by the Chiefs. Kansas City has seen the total go under in five out of their last six games against the AFC Conference, and the under is 6-0 in their last six games against the AFC West Division. Head to head, the under is 6-4 in the last 10 games between these two teams.
Over
46.5 (-110)
Under
46.5 (-110)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 12/24/19
Kansas City’s defense has been the best in the NFL in the last five weeks. The Chiefs have held their opponents to an average of 9.6 points per game while going 5-0 SU and ATS plus the under going 5-0 during that span. Kansas City has not allowed a touchdown in their last two games and I expect a low scoring contest here especially if the Patriots go up big on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Prediction: Under 46.5