Broncos vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
More divisional football is on the Sunday slate when the Denver Broncos visit the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. For once, the AFC West appears to be up for grabs this season after being claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs the past nine seasons. But an 0-2 start for Kanas City has at least opened the door now for both the 1-1 Broncos and 2-0 Chargers, all of whom made the playoffs a season ago but it was the Chiefs getting both the lone home playoff game and win.
Although the Chargers own a 1-0 home record this season, Sunday is their 2025 debut at SoFi Stadium as Week 1 saw the Chargers win as the home team in Brazil. Denver’s coming off a devastating 29-28 road defeat in Indianapolis in which they blew a late fourth quarter lead.
Kickoff Sunday in L.A. goes at 4:05 p.m. EDT with the Chargers -155 on the moneyline and a three-point favourite on the point spread, while the over-under is at 46 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Denver comes into Sunday having won just one of their last seven road outings. On the topic of home field advantage, the home team is 9-1 in the last 10 Chargers–Broncos meetings — the only exception being a 23-16 Chargers road victory last October at Denver, which started L.A.’s sweep of the Broncos last season. L.A. is a perfect 6-0 ATS in their last six divisional games.
And when it comes to the total, the over has hit in six straight Chargers home games. Denver’s offence found another gear last week by scoring 28 points in a losing effort, but the Chargers are coming off a strong defensive effort in which they allowed nine points and generated three interceptions. The under has prevailed when these teams meet as of late, with 10 of the last 12 Broncos—Chargers contests played in L.A. going under the total.
Denver Broncos
By all accounts the Broncos played winning football for three quarters against a good Indianapolis team last week, but it fell apart in the final 12 minutes. Both of Denver’s fourth-quarter drives resulted in game-changing plays, first an interception and then a missed field goal. And when it appeared the Broncos had escaped after a last-second Indianapolis field goal gone wide… it was a rare “leverage” penalty that swayed the game results into a Broncos loss.
Bo Nix was terrific in the first half of last week’s loss, racking up three touchdown passes in the opening 30 minutes. Nix appears to have found a new favourite target too, and that would 2024 fourth-round pick Troy Franklin. The speedy Oregon alumni finished with a game-high eight catches for 89 yards and a score last week, making up for a one-catch outing from Courtland Sutton. Expect both Franklin and Sutton to both see high volume targets in Week 3.
It seems Denver has dodged a bullet with an injury to Pat Surtain II, as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is not on Denver’s Week 3 injury report after exiting momentarily in Indianapolis with an ankle issue.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are looking to complete the divisional sweep after taking caring of business over Kansas City and Las Vegas in back-to-back weeks. Monday’s 20-9 win over the Raiders saw the Chargers get ahead early and not give up the lead, one that could have grown a lot bigger than 11 points if not for L.A. going four for 11 on third down and one for three in the red zone.
Justin Herbert again connected with sophomore receiver Quentin Johnston for a score in Week 2, this time coming on a 60-yard deep shot. Johnston already has three receiving touchdowns this season after scoring a quiet eight times in his rookie campaign. If there’s any concern with the Chargers offence right now, it’s rookie Omarion Hampton’s lack of running success. Hampton was the workhorse in Week 1 with 15 carries but his touches nearly got cut in half in Week 2 and he is now averaging three yards per carry on 23 rushes this season. Herbert even took matters into his own hands in Week 2, leading the Chargers with nine rushing attempts.
There are some Chargers injuries to monitor too as all of Ladd McConkey (biceps), Daiyan Henley (illness), Elijah Molden (hamstring), Will Dissly (knee) and Justin Eboigbe (foot) missed Wednesday’s practice. Khalil Mark is now on the IR too with an elbow injury.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Broncos vs. Chargers?
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DEN
LAC