It’s Chargers-Broncos: Part III, and this time, it’s win or go home. Peyton Manning has had another MVP-worthy year, but will his season once again prematurely end in disappointing defeat?
NFL Football Betting Preview: Chargers vs. Broncos
Game Details:
When: 4:40 PM ET, January 12, 2014
Odds:
*As of January 6, 2014.
Spread: Chargers (+9.5) vs. Broncos (-9.5)
Money: OFF
Totals: 55.0
Betting on the San Diego Chargers
There’s something about being road dogs that gets the San Diego Chargers all charged up.
In Week 15, they beat the Broncos (then 7-0 SU at home) in Mile High. And last week, they defeated the Bengals – who were 8-0 SU and ATS in Cincinnati – to advance to the divisional round. With that win, the Chargers have now won five games in a row and should be feeling confident that they can pull off another upset road victory in Denver. [sc:NFL240banner ]
The Broncos – the most prolific scoring team in NFL history – have only outscored the Chargers by one point over two games. That’s because San Diego’s defense, which caused four turnovers against the Bengals, held the vaunted Broncos offense below 30 points twice; all other teams did that just once.
Quarterback Philip Rivers has been a revelation this season, topping even the great Peyton Manning in pass accuracy. However, it is a resurgent running game that has been the calling card for their recent success. The Chargers have topped 140 rushing yards in their last five games, all wins. And in two games against the Broncos, San Diego is averaging over 150 yards per game.
Another possible ace in the hole for San Diego is Rivers’ head-to-head record with Manning. The two faced each other twice (2007-08) in the postseason when Manning was in Indianapolis; Rivers and the Chargers prevailed on both occasions.
Bet now on the San Diego Chargers.
Betting on the Denver Broncos
For the second season running, the Denver Broncos claimed the best record in the AFC, which was boosted by their impressive 7-1 SU home record this season. Their only loss however came just about a month ago – to their next opponent, the San Diego Chargers.
The Broncos did defeat the Chargers in San Diego back in Week 10, where Peyton Manning threw 330 of his record 5,476 passing yards and four of his record 55 TDs. And in the two games after that home loss, Manning has completed over 72% of his passes for 8 TDs and no picks.
But despite a record-breaking regular season, the narrative will shift once again toward Manning’s less than stellar postseason record, which currently stands at 0-3 SU in his last three games. The most recent loss came in last year’s divisional round against the eventual champion Ravens, who prevailed in Mile High in extra time. Manning threw for 290 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs in a losing effort.
For the Broncos to succeed this time around, the MVP-elect will need help from both his defense and his running game. The Broncos defense – one that will be without elite pass rusher Von Miller – has limited Philip Rivers to below 400 yards and just 3 TDs total in their two meetings this season.
However, Denver’s backs have rushed for just 102 yards in two games against the Chargers defense.
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