Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City 12/13/18 NFL Odds, Preview and Prediction

The Los Angeles Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in this week’s edition of Thursday Night Football.  A win by the Chargers puts them at a better position to claim the AFC’s top seed. A victory by the Chief meanwhile, will clinch the AFC West and give Kansas City a first round bye.

After losing to the Chiefs 28-38 in Week 1, who would have thought that the Chargers would find their way to this spot and make this game as crucial as it is now? Well. that’s how Los Angeles has quietly closed in on the Chiefs as each week passed. With three weeks to go in the regular season, the Chargers now have a shot to be the Top Seed in the AFC.

As quietly as the Chargers have climbed the ranks, quarterback Philip Rivers has put up an MVP-worthy season. Rivers has thrown for a total of 3,638 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions on the season. Rivers threw for 428 yards during the Chargers’ opening week loss to the Chiefs and if Los Angeles hopes to have a shot at beating Kansas City, Rivers will have to put similar numbers on Thursday.

The Chiefs’ defense has been their waterloo all season long. They rank 32nd in passing yards allowed and first downs allowed, 27th in points allowed, 26th in opponents’ fourth down completion, 25th in rushing yards allowed and 21st in opponents third down completion. Despite those, Kansas City is 11-2 SU, 8-4-1 ATS and one game away from clinching the AFC West and a first round bye. Impressive? Thanks to Mahomes’ magic.

Second year quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ season is nothing short of magical. Mahomes has completed 322 of 482 passes for a total of 4,300 passing yards with 43 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Mahomes is also third on his team with 235 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Mahomes has a trio of high value targets at his disposal. These are Pro Bowler Travis Kelce who has 1,159 receiving yards and 10 scores, Big time playmaker Tyreek Hill who has 1,258 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns and Sammy Watkins who has 519 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs need another big game from Mahomes and his targets if they are to overcome the surging Chargers.

Los Angeles is 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played and 6-1 SU in their last seven games played on the road. Kansas City is 6-1 SU in their last seven games played and are a perfect 5-0 SU in their last five home games. Head to head the Chiefs are 5-0 SU in their last five games against the Chargers and Kansas City is also 4-0 SU in their last four meetings at Arrowhead Stadium.

The worry with Kansas City is that their defense hasn’t been able to stop anybody at all. However, their defensive shortcomings have been masked by Mahomes’ brilliance on offense. Mahomes though hasn’t been in this situation before, playing on short rest and starting on Thursday night. Rivers on the other hand is 6-3 in his career while starting on Thursday Night Football games. That could be a factor too in this game.

The Chargers are 4-2 ATS in their last six games played and Los Angeles is also 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games. Kansas City is 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games played overall and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against the Chargers. Kansas City is also 2-4 ATS in their last six home games against the Chargers.

The total has gone under in five out of the last seven games of Los Angeles. The over is 4-2 in the Chargers’ last six games on the road. The over has hit in four out of the last five games played by the Chiefs but the total has gone under in nine out of Kansas City’s last 11 games at home. Head to head, the under is 6-3 in the last nine meetings between these two teams.

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