The San Diego Chargers are officially a strong contender for the AFC West title after taking their fifth-straight win on Sunday. However, they’re set to welcome divisional rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs in what should be another gritty affair on Sunday.
This is just one game in an action-packed week of football action. Check out all the other games in our complete picks and predictions for Week 7 of the 2014 NFL season.
[sc:Football ]Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers Preview
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
When: Sunday, October 19, 4:05 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Chiefs (+4) at San Diego Chargers (-4); total 44.5 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs stomped New England at home on September 29, but could not follow up on their big win as they fell 22-17 to San Francisco a week later. They have since had a chance to regroup and rest up in their Week 6 bye. The Chiefs are 1-6 coming off a bye since 2007.
Kansas City’s defense matches up well against San Diego. The Chiefs are eighth in the NFL allowing 214.4 passing yards per game. However, they’ll have their hands full against one of the hottest quarterbacks this season in Philip Rivers.
[sc:NFL240banner ]They also have an excellent pass rush with 15 sacks in five games. Outside linebacker Justin Houston leads in that regard with six sacks in the season as well as a forced fumble. The Chiefs should provide quite a challenge to a Chargers’ offensive line that has only allowed nine sacks this season.
Despite strong showings from their defense, quarterback Alex Smith has been hot and cold for the Chiefs. He threw 39-for-51 for 434 yards and six touchdowns in back-to-back dominant wins over the Miami Dolhpins and the New England Patriots. Then, Smith followed up those performances with a 53.3 percent completion rate for 158 yards with a touchdown and a pick in a 22-17 loss to San Francisco.
Tight end Travis Kelce is a hot target for Smith in the red zone. Kelce has caught a touchdown pass in each of the Chiefs’ past three games, all coming from the red zone. Despite some flashes of brilliance in their passing, Kansas City will be the most devastating if they’re able to open up their running game.
Knile Davis ran for 318 yards and three scores on 70 carries from Weeks 2 to 4, but settled back in as Jamaal Charles’ back up against the 49ers, taking just two handoffs for six yards as the Chiefs focused on the passing game. Jamaal Charles remains an elite backfield option, averaging 5.2 yards per carry in the past two games.
The Chiefs’ duo of running backs should be a formidable challenge for San Diego’s excellent rushing defense, which has limited opponents to 92.7 yards per game.
The total has gone over in the Chiefs’ last four games against San Diego.
Betting on the San Diego Chargers
While the Chiefs were off for Week 6, the San Diego Chargers had a gruelling game against the winless Oakland Raiders, in which they fought tooth and nail to a 31-28 win. The Chargers are now 5-1 ATS this season.
Despite heavy resistance from Oakland, Philip Rivers continued his streak of a passer rating of 120 or more. He has now passed for 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns in San Diego’s five-game win streak. Still, Rivers may be up for a regression when he goes against Kansas City’s excellent pass defense.
Rivers was not short on targets as he connected with wide receivers Michael Floyd, Eddie Royal and Antonio Gates for scoring passes against Oakland. Floyd led the Chargers with five receptions for 103 yards in the game. Meanwhile, undrafted rookie running back Branden Oliver added 101 yards and a score on 26 carries (his second 100-yard performance in the season).
Oliver needs to prepare for another big game as Kansas City has allowed 127.4 rushing yards per game (23rd in the NFL). The run game may be how the Chargers get themselves on the scoreboard against the Chiefs’ tight defense.
On the other side of the ball, rookie cornerback Jason Verrett may be credited for saving the Chargers from an upset loss. Verrett intercepted a deep pass from Oakland quarterback Derek Carr at the San Diego five-yard line last week to seal the game. If he can follow up on last game’s excellent play, then he may be able to limit production from the Chiefs’ Alex Smith.
The San Diego Chargers are 8-2 against the Chiefs since 2009.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas City’s (+4) tight defense does enough to cover on the road, but they won’t be the ones to stop Philip Rivers and the Chargers. Create a betting account now and get into the hottest football games in the nation.
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