Such was the strength of the NFC West last season that the Arizona Cardinals’ 10-6 record wasn’t enough to earn even a wild card spot. Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers, at 9-7, made the playoffs in the AFC.
The two playoff caliber teams kick off their new campaigns on Monday Night Football in the desert, where the Cardinals took care of business last year. But as the Chargers showed in their postseason run, they are by no means pushovers on the road.
Check out more of our Week 1 previews between the Giants vs. Lions, as well as the Colts vs. Broncos, and read on for more on the Chargers vs. Cardinals.
[sc:Football ]San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals (10:20 PM ET)
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
When: Monday, September 8, 10:20 PM ET
Line: San Diego Chargers (+3.5) at Arizona Cardinals (-3.5); total: 44.5 – see all NFL lines
Betting on the San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers played out of his mind last season. The Chargers QB was reborn in his first year under head coach Mike McCoy, completing 69.5% of his passes, tops in the NFL, and led the Chargers to a 9-7 record (9-6-1 ATS) and a playoff berth. It’s hard to imagine him playing any better, but with a couple of his receivers expected to improve, he just might.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Keenan Allen was one of the main beneficiaries of Rivers’ excellent play as he caught 71 balls for 1,046 yards and eight TDs in his breakout rookie year. In Year 2, a still-improving Allen is sure to feature prominently in the Chargers’ offense.
Tight end Ladarius Green is also primed for a much bigger role this season. Or at least, that’s what most fantasy experts believe, after tabbing him to be one of this year’s fantasy sleepers. The tall and talented tight end has an excellent chance to back up that hype against the Cardinals’ defense, which took a hit in its linebacking corps in the offseason. Green will be a legitimate threat to punish the Cards in the middle of the field.
Veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney is back healthy after playing just four games last season, but San Diego’s defensive line has been banged up all preseason. They could be forced to start rookie Ryan Carrethers at nose tackle with starter Sean Lissemore battling an ankle injury.
The Chargers were no slouch when it came to covering on the road last season. They went 4-3-1 ATS in the regular season but covered both their road playoff games at Cincinnati and at Denver. The under also went 7-3 in those ten combined road games.
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Betting on the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals’ excellent defense was a major reason the team went an impressive 10-6 (9-5-1 ATS) last season. It ranked sixth in yards allowed and seventh in points allowed per game. However, that unit may not be as dominant as it once was after three key starters from last season will be missing this year.
Linebackers Karlos Dansby and Daryl Washington are gone due to free agency and suspension, respectively, while defensive end Darnell Dockett suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.
But even with those losses, the Cards’ defense still figures to be very solid, especially in the secondary. Star corner Patrick Peterson is more than capable of taking Keenan Allen out of the equation in this game with his suffocating coverage. Safety Tyrann Mathieu is still questionable to play, but if he does, it’ll be even more difficult for the Chargers’ receivers to find any openings downfield.
On the other side, Carson Palmer won’t figure to have much trouble finding his pair of excellent receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The two wideouts must be licking their lips at the prospect of going up against a Chargers secondary that allowed over 258 passing yards per game, 29th in the NFL last season.
The Cardinals went a respectable 6-2 (5-3 ATS) at home last season. They blew out division winners Indianapolis and Carolina, and their only losses came against division rivals and NFC juggernauts Seattle and San Francisco.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cards’ secondary shuts down the Chargers’ passing game, while Palmer finds Floyd and Fitzgerald with great frequency for a comfortable Cardinal home win. Take Arizona -3.5 at home vs. San Diego.
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