Both the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers are out of contention to win the AFC West, but with two weeks left in the regular season, they each still have a shot at making the boat to the playoffs. Check out our preview below of this Week 17 Broncos-Chargers game in Los Angeles.
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Betting Preview for the Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers Regular Season Week 17 Game on January 2, 2022
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
When: Sunday, January 2, 2022, 4:05 PM ET
Line: Denver Broncos (+5.5) vs Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5) – view all 2022 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Denver Broncos (+5.5)
Regular Season Record: 7-8
The Broncos lost their second game in a row, as they got beaten by the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City last Sunday, 17-13. Denver was missing Teddy Bridgewater, who is still dealing with a concussion, and in his stead, the Broncos started Drew Lock, who didn’t exactly impress under center. Lock finished with only 153 passing yards (0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions) on 15/22 completions. It remains uncertain when Bridgewater will return to action, but whether he plays in Week 16 or not, the Broncos might have to rely more on their running backs, specifically the pair of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon, than on the arm of their quarterbacks. The Broncos rushed the ball just 16 times for 18 yards against the Raiders, but Williams and Gordon can be salivating over the prospect of facing the Chargers’ defense again. For one, the Chargers leaky run defense just made Houston Texans running back Rex Burkhead look like a future Hall of Famer in Week 16, with the veteran rushing for 149 yards and a couple of touchdowns.
The Broncos are 13-3 against the spread in their last 16 games after coming up with fewer than 90 yards rushing in their previous outing.
Betting on the Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5)
Regular Season Record: 8-7
The Chargers really lost to the Houston Texans in Week 16 on the road, 41-16. The number of points that they allowed to the Texans and the winning margin only added to the shock factor of that Chargers loss. Los Angeles will need a short memory as the team now prepares to face the Broncos. If anything, at least the Chargers will be playing a team they have already defeated this season. In the first meeting with the Broncos, Justin Herbert threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns with a pair of interceptions on 28/44 completions. Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams both missed the Texans game due to COVID reasons, so their availabilities in Week 17 should be closely monitored. If Ekeler misses another game, Justin Jackson is a capable placeholder as an RB1. Jackson rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns against Houston, while also adding 98 receiving yards on eight receptions.
The Chargers are 6-2-1 against the spread in their last 9 January games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Chargers win, 27-17,
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