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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2) vs. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (1-1)
When: Sunday, September 25, 4:05 PM ET
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Broadcast: CBS
Spread: Chargers -14 ½
Moneyline: Chiefs +660, Chargers -870
Total: 45 points
Nobody would blame the Kansas City Chiefs for throwing in the towel already – just two games into the 2011-2012 season. Since training camp they have lost their beat player Jamaal Charles, their best defender, Eric Berry and their Stud Tight End Tony Moeaki to ACL injuries. Needles to say, the Chiefs are a very different team from the one that was expected to challenge again for the AFC West crown.
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On Sunday, the Chiefs have the misfortune of playing the San Diego Chargers, a team that was a victim of countless mistake last week in a loss to the New England Patriots. The stacked Chargers are licking their chops at the thought of facing a main rival that has been absolutely decimated by injuries already.
Kansas City has been outscored this season 89-10 – seriously! They have been miserable offensively and dreadful defensively. Matt Cassel takes a 50.4 QB rating into Sunday on the heels of a brutal performance at the Jets last week. To make matters worse, Cassel has averaged just 114.3 yards per game, has three touchdown and four interceptions in his career versus San Diego. The Chiefs will be forced to ride a 33 year old running back as well although Thomas Jones just may be the best 30+ year old back in the NFL. Jones who had 896 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns last year (just 14 carries and 40 yards versus San Diego) will be the main man with Dexter McCluster spelling him.
San Diego committed four huge turnovers last week in a 35-21 loss to the New England Patriots. You can bet that redemption will be on their minds. Philip Rivers has been typically superb so far this season with Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates splitting time as Rivers’s most trusted targets. Rivers has enjoyed playing the Chiefs – he has averaged 295 yards passing in his last five games versus Kansas City. The Chargers running game appear to be rounding into form as well. Ryan Matthews played well last week and appears to finally be “getting it” while Mike Tolbert, despite a costly fumble and an apparent injury last week has exceeded expectations so far.
Defensively the edge has to go to the Chargers as well. Kansas City has been lit up two weeks in a row by Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Buffalo Bills and Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions. The only real concern with the San Diego defense is the fact that they have only generated one takeaway so far this season.
Betting Outlook: The Chiefs have absolutely no chance in this game. They are a team that has averaged just five points per game so far this season. Against San Diego, they will likely need 24 just to remain close. With injuries mounting, Kansas City will continue on their path from first to worst in the AFC West as they get beat down by the Chargers this week. 14 ½ points doesn’t scare me one bit – it shouldn’t scare you either!
The odds makers have the San Diego Chargers as a -14.5 point favorite with an over/under of 45.
Pick: San Diego Chargers -14 ½
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Kansas City Chiefs Betting Trends:
- Kansas City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
- Kansas City is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- Kansas City is 0-4-1 SU in its last 5 games,
- Kansas City is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games at home
San Diego Chargers Betting Trends:
- San Diego is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games
- San Diego is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Diego’s last 5 games at home
- San Diego is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
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