Chargers To Continue Winning Streak Against Chiefs

The battle for the AFC West takes a crucial turn on Saturday night when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs collapsed from a 5-0 start to 6-6 in their campaign before last week. However, Andy Reid’s men managed to end a four-game losing streak to defeat the Oakland Raiders.

They still hold pole position in the division and with it the place in the playoffs. However, it’s a perilous spot with the Chargers on the rise in the second half of the campaign. Los Angeles have won seven out of their last nine matches to recover from their 0-4 start. Anthony Lynn’s men have performed extremely well on both sides of the ball and are only out of the playoffs due to their loss to the Chiefs earlier in the campaign.

The Chargers now have the opportunity to force their way into the post-season. Lynn’s men have the hallmarks of a team that no-one wants to face in January. They have a potent pass-rush with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa off the edge. Philip Rivers has found his form, throwing eight touchdowns to zero interceptions in his side’s four-game winning streak.

Kansas City have had their issues with consistency since their 5-0 start to the term. Their offense and defense have taken turns to let the side down. Alex Smith and company have started to regain their rhythm at the moment, which could be crucial in delivering a post-season berth.

Neither side can afford a defeat at this stage of the term. The contest will likely decide which team emerges from the AFC West to compete in the playoffs. We’ll now break down the contest using the latest betting odds.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs earned respite from their losing run by defeating the Raiders on home soil. Reid’s men had lost six out of their last seven matches before Oakland arrived. However, Jack Del Rio’s side served up a meek performance and allowed the Chiefs to get back to winning ways. The offense and defense had taken it turns to struggle, with Smith and company struggling against the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. The defense allowed the New York Jets to put 38 points on the board in their win two weeks ago. Both units were back in sync for the victory over Oakland, which could see the club return to their form of the opening weeks of the campaign.

Kareem Hunt was the star of the first five weeks of the season. The rookie running back was on course of a huge season as he racked up the yards with ease. However, for the last seven matches he and the Chiefs were held in check on the ground, failing to surpass 100 yards. Hunt was back to form against the Raiders, running for 116 yards and a touchdown to guide his side to the victory. Smith still had his issues in the passing game, throwing one interception. The 33-year-old is still under pressure, with Patrick Mahomes waiting in the wings and will need a strong end to the campaign.

Kansas City’s defense has flowed through the success of Justin Houston rushing the quarterback. The linebacker has 9.5 sacks on the season, over a third of his team’s quarterback takedowns. They cannot afford a poor outing against the Chargers, with their offense struggling for rhythm. Shutting down Rivers and company would prove that the club are still a force in the AFC.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are becoming a dangerous team in AFC playoff race. The club have won seven out of their last nine matches, with their only two defeats coming at the hands of the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their defense has become a formidable unit as Bosa and Ingram have dominated off the edge this term. The two players have combined for 20.5 sacks in their 13 matches, with Bosa leading the team with 11.5 quarterback takedowns. The defensive end is developing into one of the most dominant players at his position in the NFL and could be the driving force behind their surge into the post-season.

The Chargers’ defense is ranked second in the NFL in points allowed this term. Lynn’s men concede just 17.3 points per game and have stifled the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins in their four-game winning streak. Kansas City have struggled to put points on the board of late. Another strong performance from the unit will allow Rivers to operate without the pressure of having to throw on every down.

Rivers has been outstanding since the club’s bye week. The 36-year-old has had a strong season anyway, throwing 23 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. However, over the last four games of the campaign he has been flawless, throwing eight strikes to guide his team to four wins on the bounce. Keenan Allen has been almost unstoppable in the receiving corps, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old has reeled off four straight 100-yard performances, scoring four touchdowns in the process. The Chiefs’ defense will have to be at their best to stop him and Los Angeles’ plethora of weapons.

Betting Options

The Chargers on a roll and will be determined to avenge their defeat earlier in the campaign. It took a while for Lynn’s men to find their form, but are finally beginning to look like a team that could pose the AFC’s elite problems in the post-season. Los Angeles have to beat the Chiefs to get there, but they do have the players to cause Kansas City all sorts of problems on both sides of the ball. Rivers has been dominant of late in the passing game, and although the Chiefs were better against Oakland, expect the Chargers to secure their fifth-straight win at odds of 1.91Bet €100 to win €19191/100Bet £100 to win £191-110Bet $100 to win $1910.91Bet HK$100 to win HK$191-1.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp1910.9100Bet RM100 to win RM191  with ComeOn.

For value Los Angeles could be an intriguing option at -3.5 spread at odds of 2.40Bet €100 to win €2407/5Bet £100 to win £240+140Bet $100 to win $2401.40Bet HK$100 to win HK$2401.40Bet Rp100 to win Rp240-0.7143Bet RM100 to win RM240  with 888Sport. The Chargers’ defense could be good for one defensive score that could turn the scoreline in favour of the points. Due to the talent on Los Angeles’ defense and the issues of Kansas City’s offense, take the Chiefs to score under 22.5 points at odds of 1.97Bet €100 to win €19797/100Bet £100 to win £197-103Bet $100 to win $1970.97Bet HK$100 to win HK$197-1.03Bet Rp100 to win Rp1970.9700Bet RM100 to win RM197  with 888Sport.

Tips Summary

Los Angeles Chargers To Beat Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday 16^th December 2017 20:25 ET (Sunday 17^th December 2017 01:25 GMT)
Odds: 1.91Bet €100 to win €19191/100Bet £100 to win £191-110Bet $100 to win $1910.91Bet HK$100 to win HK$191-1.10Bet Rp100 to win Rp1910.9100Bet RM100 to win RM191

Take Los Angeles Chargers -3.5 Spread
Saturday 16^th December 2017 20:25 ET (Sunday 17^th December 2017 01:25 GMT)
Odds: 2.40Bet €100 to win €2407/5Bet £100 to win £240+140Bet $100 to win $2401.40Bet HK$100 to win HK$2401.40Bet Rp100 to win Rp240-0.7143Bet RM100 to win RM240

Kansas City Chiefs To Score Under 22.5 Points
Saturday 16^th December 2017 20:25 ET (Sunday 17^th December 2017 01:25 GMT)
Odds: 1.97Bet €100 to win €19797/100Bet £100 to win £197-103Bet $100 to win $1970.97Bet HK$100 to win HK$197-1.03Bet Rp100 to win Rp1970.9700Bet RM100 to win RM197