Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs – 3.5

Game Total – 54.5

 

Players to Watch

Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes – Mahomes is likely the front runner to win the NFL MVP given the season he has had having thrown for 4,584 yards with 43 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Against the Chargers earlier this season we saw Mahomes throw for four touchdown passes.  The loss of Kareem Hunt and Spencer Ware should put the focus of the Chiefs offense even more on the arm of Mahomes which bodes well for his production.

Travis Kelce – Kelce already has set a career for receiving yards (1,159), catches (86) and touchdowns (10).   Chargers held Kelce in check in their first meeting, limiting him to just one catch for six yards.  Think about that for a second. He has career highs in all categories while having a game with one catch for six yards. With Tyreke Hill less than 100% I think we see Kelce much more involved in tonight’s game.

Damien Williams – This is where we are in the football world that Damien Williams is somebody we need to talk about.  Injuries to Spencer Ware and the release of Kareem Hunt has led to Williams being tonight’s starting running back.  He is a dual threat back and in Week 14 we saw him run for a touchdown and catch a touchdown pass.

Tyreek Hill – Hill is hobbled by a foot injury and could very well be a decoy tonight.  That said, he torched the Chargers in their first meeting as he caught seven passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.  He is having a huge season for the Chiefs, catching 74 passes for 1,258 yards and 11 touchdowns.  I question how active he truly will be.

Los Angeles Chargers

Philip Rivers – Rivers threw for 424 yards with three touchdowns and one interception during the Chargers first meeting against the Chiefs this season. At age 37 he is having an impressive year, throwing for 3,638 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions.  Rivers is completing nearly 70% of his pass attempts on the season.  The Chiefs defense ranks among the worst in football but they will have the home field advantage.

Justin Jackson – Not a name you are familiar with?  Both Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are out for tonight’s game which leads to Jackson as the Chargers starting running back.  Jackson was a 7th round pick by the Chargers this season but he finds himself starting in a game that could determine the AFC West Division champion.  Jackson really struggled against the Bengals but was impressive in limited work against the Steelers and Cardinals.  He has caught a few passes over the past two games which bodes well for his overall upside.

Keenan Allen – Allen is having another stellar season, having caught 88 passes for 1,074 yards and six touchdowns.  He has found the end zone in five straight games. He is Rivers favorite target and against the Chiefs during their first meeting he caught eight passes for 108 yards and a score.

Pre-Game Props

1) The last non-kneeling, offensive play of the 1st Quarter is a passing play (We'll leave this open until the 2:00 mark) - Yes 2.5/ No 2.5

Given the injuries at running back I am going to go with a YES the last offensive play is a passing play

2) A player from either team records 4 or more receptions in the 1st Quarter - Yes 3/ No 2

This is going to be a back and forth shootout in my opinion and given the injuries at RB I feel like it will be pass heavy so YES give me a WR/TE getting four or more catches in the 1st Q

3) Both teams combine for 14 or more points in the 1st Quarter -  Yes 3.3/ No 2.1

I am going to go with a YES for this one.  I see both teams scoring early and often here.

4) KC gains 3 or more 1st Downs on their opening drive – Yes 2.4/ No 2.6

I am going to go with a Yes here, they are an explosive offense, at home.

5) K. Allen (LAC) records 2 or more receptions on the LAC opening drive - Yes 2.7/ No 2.1

Yes – Allen is going to be targeted early and often for the Chargers. He is Rivers favorite target and this KC defense is exploitable.

6) The first offensive play of the game gains 3 or more yards - Yes 1.5/ No 4.5

Give me a YES here again, ALL YES’s for the pre-game props for me tonight.  An opening pass play for more than three yards seems definitely doable.