Bills vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
Buffalo’s push for the playoffs benefitted greatly from last week’s 31-10 statement win against the Dallas Cowboys. The Chargers are in a totally opposite place as head coach Brandon Staley was fired following last week’s crushing 63-21 loss against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders.
The Bills are hefty 12.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with the total sitting at 44.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These teams haven’t met since Week 12 of the 2020 season. The Bills won the game 27-17 in Buffalo, with Josh Allen throwing for 157 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Justin Herbert answered for L.A. with 316 yards and a touchdown and interception each. Herbert won’t play in this game after suffering a season-ending finger injury earlier this month.
Buffalo hasn’t been a great cover option this season as they are 6-8 against the spread overall, including 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games. They’ve lost six straight road games against the Chargers, but they’re a sparkling 8-0 straight up in their last eight December games. The total has trended low for the Bills recently, with the Under hitting in six of their last seven games overall.
The Chargers should be officially eliminated from playoff contention this week as they come in 1-5 both SU and ATS in their last six games. They’re a dismal 5-9 ATS overall, with covers in just two of seven home games. L.A.’s games are also trending low as the total has gone Under in 10 of their last 12.
Buffalo Bills
Despite Allen throwing for just 94 yards and one touchdown against Dallas last week, the Bills’ offence continued to roll. That’s mainly due to a focus on the run-game from new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who took over after Ken Dorsey was fired following a Week 10 loss against the Broncos. Running back James Cook accounted for 179 of Buffalo’s 266 rushing yards against the Cowboys and he also finished with a rushing and receiving touchdown each. Cook is averaging 141 scrimmage yards per game since Brady took over. The Bills’ rushing game should continue to play a pivotal role down the stretch given Allen has thrown the second-most interceptions in the NFL this season (14).
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are down a head coach and their starting quarterback, so the season can’t end soon enough at this point. They were absolutely crushed from the start last week, trailing Las Vegas 21-0 after the first quarter and 42-0 at halftime. The Raiders forced five fumbles and recovered four of them. L.A. quarterback Easton Stick finished with 257 passing yards, three TDs and an interception. One bright spot was Joshua Palmer, who had 113 receving yards and a touchdown in his return from a knee injury. Leading receiver Keenan Allen missed the game, however, and he likely won’t play this week.
BUF
LAC