San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs Preview
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
When: Sunday, September 11, 2016, 1:00 PM ET
Line: San Diego Chargers (+7) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-7); total: 44.5 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
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Betting on the San Diego Chargers (+7)
The Chargers’ offense should be better this season, especially with Rivers getting his no. 1 target in Keenan Allen back. Even without Allen for eight games last season, Rivers managed to guide San Diego into finishing fourth in passing offense with 286.9 passing yards per game. Allen, who played in just eight games last season due to a lacerated kidney, had 725 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Apart from Allen, Rivers will also lean on a still serviceable Antonio Gates and former Cleveland receiver Travis Benjamin.
Kansas City’s defense presents a big challenge for the Chargers but the Chiefs not having Justin Houston (knee) in time for Week 1 is a welcome development for San Diego—particularly for Rivers, as he’ll have more time in the pocket and eye his targets.
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs (-7)
Not having Jamaal Charles in Week 1 sure sucks for the Chiefs, but they will still have other weapons on the field this Sunday looking to exploit San Diego’s defense that remains a big question mark.
For one, the Chiefs have Alex Smith directing the offense. Smith isn’t any sort of superstar quarterback but he’s someone head coach Andy Reid can rely on to get the job done, especially against the Chargers’ defense that gave up 24.9 points per game. Last season, Smith passed for 3,486 and 20 touchdowns.
Smith will look to hook up with Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce, who were the Chiefs’ top two receivers last season with 1,088 and 875 receiving yards, respectively.
In lieu of Charles, the Chiefs will see the pair of Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware sharing backfield duties. West and Ware showed promise last season, when they combined for 1,037 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. They should have fun finding gaps on San Diego’s defense, one that surrendered 125.3 rushing yards per game in 2015.
Kansas City is 6-0 SU in its last six home games.
Writer’s Prediction
San Diego (+7) wins, 28-24.
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