Our betting picks and prediction previews continue with another intra-divisional clash between the Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, 5-3 Away) and Denver Broncos (4-12, 3-4 Home) on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff from Empower Field at Mile High is scheduled for 4:25 PM EST and will be broadcast on CBS.
These two rivals first met in Week 6, with the Chargers emerging victorious at home in overtime, 19-16. Among the interesting NFL player stats to stick out from that matchup was Justin Herbert’s 26-game streak throwing at least one touchdown getting snapped, in what was the second-longest active streak at the time.
It was also the first time in Chargers’ franchise history that they rallied from a double-digit deficit at the end of the first quarter to win a game.
It will be interesting to see if there are many NFL expert picks for this game but continue reading for our Chargers vs Broncos prediction.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos Game Info and Analysis
NFL – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Location of the game: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Time: Sunday, January 8, 4:25 PM ET
Los Angeles Chargers Performance Recap and Analysis
At the beginning of the season, this was expected to be one of the more important NFL matchups on the NFL schedule. A Week 18 showdown between Herbert and the rising Chargers against the reloaded Broncos and their new quarterback, Russell Wilson.
However, only the Chargers held up their end of the bargain as L.A. is poised for their first playoff appearance since 2018. The Los Angeles Chargers odds to win the Super Bowl, as it stands in the first week of January, sit at 25-1.
They’ll enter this regular-season finale sitting in the 5-seed in the AFC playoff picture and own the tiebreaker over Baltimore based on their win percentage in conference games. They can slide no lower than the 6-seed. See below for the NFL injury report as it pertains to this game, and keep reading for our Chargers vs Broncos prediction.
Key Injuries
- S Derwin James – Questionable (Concussion)
- OT Trey Pipkins III – Questionable (Knee)
- FB Zander Horvath – Questionable (Ankle)
Betting Trends to Know
- The Chargers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games overall.
- The Chargers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games.
- The Under is 5-0 in the Chargers’ last five games overall.
Denver Broncos Performance Recap and Analysis
It hasn’t been pretty watching Denver Broncos games this season as they’ll limp to the finish line having won just four games, tied for the second-fewest in the AFC when scanning the NFL standings.
Wilson has been a massive disappointment after Denver dealt away a king’s ransom to Seattle. Now the Seahawks are on the doorstep of the postseason and armed with a top-10 pick in next year’s draft, while the Broncos will be in the market for a new head coach for the second offseason in a row after firing Nathaniel Hackett following a blowout loss to the Rams.
As we take a closer look at the NFL team stats, the Broncos’ 16.0 points per game are the lowest in all of the NFL.
Key Injuries
- WR Jerry Jeudy – Questionable (Ankle)
- WR Kendall Hinton – Questionable (Hamstring)
- G Dalton Risner – Out (Elbow)
Betting Trends to Know
- The Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a straight up loss.
- The Broncos are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games in January.
- The Over is 4-0 in the Broncos’ last four games overall.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos Odds
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos Betting Picks
As the NFL odds indicate, the Broncos are short favorites for this Week 18 tilt. This has everything to do with the Chargers and very little to do with the Broncos, as L.A. could decide to rest their starters for the majority or even the entirety of the game. The Chargers can secure the 5-seed with a win or a Ravens loss to the Bengals.
Denver played well in their first game without Hackett, ultimately falling to the AFC’s top-seeded Chiefs by three in Week 17. They should be inspired one more time and take advantage of facing many backups on the other side. We’re siding with the home team on our Chargers vs Broncos prediction.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos Score Prediction
- Denver 18 Los Angeles 13
NFL Pick: Broncos -2.5 / Under 40
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