Each club has dropped two consecutive contests, which has all but eliminated the 7-8 Broncos and then put the 8-7 Chargers right in the middle of the playoff mix.

Denver’s likely still going to be without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater this weekend, which means it’ll be Drew Lock under centre again. But if Davis Mills and the Texans can score 40 on the Chargers, who’s to say the Drew Lock-led Broncos can’t do the same?

Kickoff at SoFi Stadium is set for 4:05 p.m. EST. Los Angeles sits as a 6.5-point favourite at home, with the total at 46 on the NFL odds.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

As AFC West opponents, this is the second and final regular season match between the Broncos and Chargers this season. Denver took their first game by a score of 28-13 back in Week 12. Rookie corner Pat Surtain II had two interceptions, one of which went back for six, while the Broncos rushed for 147 yards. The Chargers rank 29th in the NFL with 140.3 rushing yards allowed per game, and got gashed last week for 189 in Houston.

Denver struggles offensively though, which a 12-3 record to the under this season proves. Six of the Broncos’ seven road games have gone under the total too. Both teams are 7-8 against the spread in 2021.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos have hit an expected downfall: offence. In their last five losses, they’ve failed to reach 15 points. And in their last three their opponent has not scored more than 22. Last week’s 17-13 defeat at Las Vegas also saw the Broncos blow a 13-7 lead heading into halftime.

Denver’s relied on their two running backs, Melvin Gordon III and rookie Javonte Williams. The rookie leads them with 827 rushing yards but Gordon has seven scores. When you see the two combined for 8 rushing yards on 14 carries last week, it’s clear why Denver fell to the Raiders.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers 12-point loss at Houston was one of the season’s biggest upsets, and just made their problems clearer. Defence is the core, but it stems at their rush defence which got exposed by the league’s worst running team last week. Los Angeles is now 31st in points allowed with 27.4 per game, and have given up 96 over their last three showings.

Second-year quarterback Justin Herbert is second in the NFL in yards with 4,394 but is now tied for the league lead with 14 interceptions. The turnover problem arose last time versus Denver, and last weekend in Houston with another two picks.

NFL Prediction Who Will Win Broncos vs. Chargers?

• Regular Season

Broncos Team Leaders

DEN

Touchdowns	Melvin Gordon III 10
Rushing	Melvin Gordon III 918
Passing	Teddy Bridgewater 3052
Receiving	Noah Fant 68
Sacks	Shelby Harris 6
Interceptions	Justin Simmons 5

LAC

Touchdowns	Austin Ekeler 20
Rushing	Austin Ekeler 911
Passing	Justin Herbert 5014
Receiving	Keenan Allen 106
Sacks	Joey Bosa 10.5
Interceptions	Asante Samuel Jr. 2

• Regular Season

Chargers Team Leaders

DEN

Touchdowns	Melvin Gordon III 10
Rushing	Melvin Gordon III 918
Passing	Teddy Bridgewater 3052
Receiving	Noah Fant 68
Sacks	Shelby Harris 6
Interceptions	Justin Simmons 5

LAC

Touchdowns	Austin Ekeler 20
Rushing	Austin Ekeler 911
Passing	Justin Herbert 5014
Receiving	Keenan Allen 106
Sacks	Joey Bosa 10.5
Interceptions	Asante Samuel Jr. 2

Weather

temp	62
condition	sunny
wind	Northeast 6mph

Injuries

Denver

Bobby Massie (T)

Out Sat Concussion - 08 / 01 / 22

Nate Hairston (CB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Noah Fant (TE)

Prob Sat Quadricep - 04 / 01 / 22

Melvin Gordon III (RB)

Prob Sat Hip - 04 / 01 / 22

Shelby Harris (DE)

Ques Sat Ankle - 04 / 01 / 22

Kareem Jackson (S)

I-R Back - 04 / 01 / 22

Shamar Stephen (DL)

Prob Sat Quadricep - 04 / 01 / 22

Pat Surtain II (CB)

Out indefinitely Calf - 04 / 01 / 22

Javonte Williams (RB)

Prob Sat Knee - 04 / 01 / 22

Drew Lock (QB)

Prob Sat Shoulder - 03 / 01 / 22

L.A. Chargers

Joe Gaziano (DE)

Out Sun Ankle - 06 / 01 / 22

Linval Joseph (DT)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 06 / 01 / 22

Damon Lloyd (LB)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 22

Jared Cook (TE)

Out indefinitely Illness - 31 / 12 / 21

Damon Lloyd (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 31 / 12 / 21

Stephen Anderson (TE)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21

Tevaughn Campbell (CB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 21

Linval Joseph (DT)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21

Uchenna Nwosu (LB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21

Jerry Tillery (DT)

Prob Sun Ankle - 30 / 12 / 21

Injuries

Denver

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Bobby Massie (T)	Out Sat	Concussion - 08 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Massie will not suit up against the Chiefs on Saturday due to a concussion.
Nate Hairston (CB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Hairston has been added to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be decided when he will return to action.
Noah Fant (TE)	Prob Sat	Quadricep - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Fant is tending to a quadricep injury, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Saturday's battle with the Chiefs.
Melvin Gordon III (RB)	Prob Sat	Hip - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gordon III is hampered by a hip injury, but it is likely that he will face the Chiefs on Saturday.
Shelby Harris (DE)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Harris is managing an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will partake in Saturday's tilt against the Chiefs.
Kareem Jackson (S)	I-R	Back - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Jackson has been ticketed for the injured reserve list due to a back and shoulder injury.
Shamar Stephen (DL)	Prob Sat	Quadricep - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Stephen is dealing with a quadricep injury, but it is projected that he will be in Saturday's lineup versus the Chiefs.
Pat Surtain II (CB)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Surtain II has been placed on the injured reserve list with a calf injury, and a date for his return is unclear.
Javonte Williams (RB)	Prob Sat	Knee - 04 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Williams is managing a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will take the field Saturday versus the Chiefs.
Drew Lock (QB)	Prob Sat	Shoulder - 03 / 01 / 22	0-1	1-0	+ -
Lock is expected to partake in Saturday's game against the Chiefs despite a shoulder injury.

L.A. Chargers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Joe Gaziano (DE)	Out Sun	Ankle - 06 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Gaziano is dealing with an ankle injury, and he will not face the Raiders on Sunday.
Linval Joseph (DT)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 06 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Joseph is projected to line up for Sunday's clash with the Raiders despite a shoulder issue.
Damon Lloyd (LB)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 06 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Lloyd has ended up on the injured reserve list with an unspecified ailment, and there is no timetable for return.
Jared Cook (TE)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 31 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Cook has been shifted to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unknown when he will return.
Damon Lloyd (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 31 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Lloyd has been moved to the IR/COVID-19 list, and team officials have yet to provide an exact return date.
Stephen Anderson (TE)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Anderson is expected to be active against the Broncos on Sunday despite a shoulder injury.
Tevaughn Campbell (CB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Campbell is likely to take on the Broncos on Sunday despite a hamstring issue.
Linval Joseph (DT)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Joseph is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he is expected to take the field against the Broncos on Sunday.
Uchenna Nwosu (LB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Nwosu has injuries to his shoulder and hip, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Sunday's matchup with the Broncos.
Jerry Tillery (DT)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Tillery is hobbled by an ankle injury, but he is projected to line up for Sunday's contest against the Broncos.