Los Angeles Chargers vs Denver Betting Analysis & Predictions

Every team in the AFC West has a non-losing record, but that would change if the Los Angeles Chargers (6-4) win at the Denver Broncos (5-5) on Sunday. The Bolts are short favorites on the NFL odds and would tie for first in the division with a win.

How to Bet Chargers at Broncos NFL Odds & TV Info

When: Sunday, 4:05 PM ET
Where: Empower Field at Mile High
TV: CBS
Radio: http://www.siriusxm.com/nfl
Stream Option: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV
Opening NFL Lines: Chargers -2.5 (total 48)

Last Season

The teams split their two games in 2020. The one in Denver was a 31-30 Broncos victory as LA blew a 21-point lead. Down 30-24, the Broncos got the ball at their 19 down 30-24 with 2:24 and one timeout remaining. On fourth-and-4 from the Chargers 18 with 7 seconds left, Drew Lock’s pass to Albert Okwuegbunam was incomplete. Defensive back Brandon Facyson was whistled for pass interference, giving the Broncos the ball at the 1 with 1 second remaining. On the next play, Lock hit KJ Hamler for the win.

Each of the last two games in Denver between the teams has been decided by a field goal or less. Inn 2020, Denver captured a 23-20 victory on a 53-yard field goal by Brandon McManus with no time remaining.

Why Bet on Los Angeles?

The Chargers won a wild 41-37 game over Pittsburgh on Sunday night in Week 11. Justin Herbert completed 30-of-41 passes for 382 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick adding 90 yards on nine carries. He became the first player with at least 375 passing yards and 90 rushing yards in a game in NFL history. He also has 53 career touchdown passes, tied with Derek Carr (53) for the second-most by a quarterback in his first two seasons in league annals.

Austin Ekeler rushed 11 times for 50 yards and two touchdowns, adding six catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. He became the first player in a decade to rush for multiple touchdowns and catch multiple touchdowns in a game, since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011 (Week 14). Ekeler, who has seven rushing touchdowns and six receiving touchdowns this season, became just the second player since the merger in 1970 with at least six in each category through his team’s first 10 games, joining KAREEM HUNT (2018).

Earlier this week, the Bolts placed defensive tackle Linval Joseph on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Chargers have had a handful of defensive linemen land on the COVID list recently including Joey Bosa and Jerry Tillery. Both players were activated ahead of LA’s Week 11 game versus the Steelers. Joseph has a sack and two TFLs this year. If he’s vaccinated, he can return two negative tests 24 hours apart and return to the active roster before Sunday. Joseph missed Sunday’s victory over the Steelers because of a shoulder injury. Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is currently in concussion protocol and is day-to-day after suffering his second one late in the victory over the Steelers.

The Chargers’ matchup against the Broncos marks a special reunion for head coach Brandon Staley. Staley gets the chance to face the man that gave him his first break in the NFL, current Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears at the time.

Why Bet on Denver?

Denver comes off its bye week and lost ugly in Week 10 at home to Philadelphia, 30-13. During the bye, the team signed Courtland Sutton to a four-year contract extension worth up to $60.8 million. Sutton’s deal comes with $34.9 million guaranteed. The 26-year-old wideout comes to terms with the Broncos during a three-game statistical slump that coincides with the return of Jerry Jeudy from an early-season ankle injury. Sutton has five catches for 79 scoreless yards over that three-game stretch.

The team has placed left tackle Garrett Bolles on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Bolles missed Week 10 with an ankle issue. He reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 so he will likely miss this game. Right tackle Graham Glasgow is done for the year with a broken leg as well. That means Denver will be without both of their starting tackles.

Star pass-rusher Bradley Chubb could return this week. Chubb hasn’t played since Week 2 when he suffered an ankle injury. He was forced to undergo surgery to remove a bone spur shortly after and has been sidelined ever since. Chubb’s return will be more than welcome by a defense that recently traded its best playmaker to Los Angeles in Von Miller. Chubb totaled 7.5 sacks in 14 games last year.

“If he does play, it would be in limited numbers,” Coach Vic Fangio said of Chubb. “And he’s got to feel confident on it.”

Starting right tackle Bobby Massie is also expected to be 50-50 for Sunday’s game. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice after exiting the team’s Week 9 game against Dallas with an ankle injury. Safety Kareem Jackson is questionable. If Jackson is unable to play on Sunday, Fangio said he has a “really high” level of confidence in rookie Caden Sterns to replace Jackson.

The Broncos have a 68-53 edge over the Bolts with one tie in the series. Nine of the last 11 matchups in the Mile High City have been decided by one score, including five of them by less than seven points.