Broncos vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Week 14 Odds, Prediction
Both these teams have been wildly inconsistent this season. Currently sitting at 6-6, Denver began the season with five losses in their first six games, but they just had a five-game win streak snapped in last week’s 22-17 loss in Houston. The 5-7 Chargers only managed six points last week against New England, but it was enough to earn a shutout victory.
L.A. enters this Week 14 contest as 2.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with the total sitting at 44.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The teams split the season series last year, with the Chargers taking a 19-16 Week 6 overtime decision in L.A. and the Broncos winning 31-28 in Denver in Week 18.
The Broncos have had the better of L.A. in this all-time series, going 12-6 straight up and 10-7-1 against the spread in their last 18 games against the Chargers. Denver hasn’t been a great cover option this season, however, as they’re 4-7-1 ATS overall, including just 1-3-1 ATS on the road. It’s also worth noting, the total has gone Under in six of the Broncos’ last seven games.
Last week’s win snapped an 0-3 SU and ATS losing streak for L.A. For the season, they’re 5-7 ATS overall and they’ve failed to cover in four of six home dates. Low scoring games are nothing new for the Chargers as the total has gone Under in nine of their last 10.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos’ comeback attempt late in the fourth quarter last week almost extended their win streak to six games, something that seemed unthinkable with how bad the team started the season. Russell Wilson had some costly mistakes as he threw a season-high three interceptions. Wilson finished the game with 186 passing yards and one touchdown while running in a second score on the ground. The veteran QB hadn’t thrown an interception in the previous five games, but his third pick of the day ended the game for Denver.
It’s been pretty hard to predict how this Broncos team will play this year as essentially every component of the team has had hot and cold stretches. One area that has seen recent improvement is the defence. After struggling early in the year, Denver is allowing just 17.3 points per game over the team’s last seven games. Strong defence and a solid outing from Wilson could make the difference this week.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers and Patriots played one of the worst games of the season last week, but L.A. managed to walk away with a win. Two second-quarter field goals by the Chargers was the extent of the offence in the game. Justin Herbert finished with 212 passing yards and Austin Ekeler had a season-low 18 rushing yards on 14 carries. Ekeler had 117 rushing yards in the season-opener, but he missed the next three games with an ankle injury and hasn’t looked the same. Ekeler is averaging only 41.1 rushing yards per game since his return in Week 6.
Generating offence is clearly a major struggle for the Chargers right now. The team has been held to 20 points or less in five of their last eight games, including ugly back-to-back performances of 10 points scored against Baltimore and six points scored against New England. L.A. will need their defence to carry them if they have a chance to hang with Denver.
DEN
LAC