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San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs NFL Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

chargers chiefs 102109 The 2-3 San Diego Chargers take on the 1-5 Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in a Week 7 AFC West Division clash. Last week, the Chargers fell 34-23 to division rival Denver on Monday Night Football while the Chiefs got their first win of the season, a 14-6 victory over the Redskins. It was a nailbiter the last time these two teams faced off with San Diego winning 22-21 in Week 15 of last season. The Chargers have won four of the last five meetings but they trail the all-time series 50-47-1. NFL odds makers expect to see San Diego bounce back this week, listing the Chargers as a 5-point favorite with the total set at 44.

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The Chargers swept the Chiefs last season, but it was no easy task. They won each of last year’s games by a single point. San Diego doesn’t care about style points. At this point, it just needs a win in the worst possible way. While the Chargers are 4 games behind Denver in the loss column, they are far from packing it in. San Diego has started 2-3 each of the last two seasons and has gone on to win the division and make some noise in the playoffs, but can the Chargers do it again?

I think the offense is in pretty good shape with Philip Rivers and company, but the defense needs a lift. In the past, that lift has come from outside linebacker Shawne Merriman. From 2005-2007, Merriman was perhaps the league’s deadliest QB assassin, tallying 39.5 sacks during those three seasons. Then, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out virtually all of last season. So far, it appears he has lost a step as he is yet to record a sack this season. Perhaps, he can break through this week against a Chiefs team that has allowed the most sacks in the AFC (22). It is worth noting that the Chiefs are 4-12 against the spread in their last 16 home games. If you like San Diego to bounce back strong this week, bet the Chargers at -5 at BetUS.

Kansas City is 14-5 at home against San Diego dating back to 1990 and it will have a chance to improve on those impressive numbers Sunday as it enters the game with some rare momentum. Those following the Chiefs have noticed that this team is starting to make progress. They didn’t give up when the Giants had them down early. They took the Cowboys into overtime. And then they defeated Washington on the road to pick up their first win. It appears the players are buying in to Scott Pioli and Todd Haley and you can bet that Kansas City will be well-prepared for the Chargers this week.

Defensively, the key will be getting a pass rush on Rivers. In the first half, he was able to shred the Broncos when he had plenty of time to throw. In the second half, Denver kept collapsing the pocket with numerous blitzes and Rivers and the offense had no answers.

Offensively, the Chiefs will put the ball in the hands of Matt Cassel who gives them a sense of stability under center for the first time in several years. Cassel has been smart with the football and that has kept the Chiefs in games. He has now thrown 132 passes without an interception. If the Chiefs can avoid costly turnovers this week, they should be able to hang with San Diego. It is worth noting that the underdog is 11-4-1 against the spread in the last 16 meetings in this series. If you like Kansas City to build on last week’s performance by taking San Diego down to the wire, bet the Chiefs at +5 at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd crushed the books by going 4-1 with his NFL expert picks last Sunday. Make sure you’re on board this week for another big winning card!

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