The Bolts opened as 6.5-point favourites on the NFL odds, but that might change regarding their motivation level.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

This originally was to be the Sunday night game, but the Rams have been arguably the biggest disappointments in the NFL so it was flexed out for Steelers-Ravens. Probably a good thing considering the Chargers have very little to play for at this point but for very different reasons.

Los Angeles is definitely much more of a Rams town, so there will likely be a lot more fans of theirs in attendance than the Chargers even though the defending Super Bowl champions have long been eliminated from playoff contention.

The last regular-season meeting between the clubs was Week 3 of the 2018 season with the Chargers winning 35-23. Philip Rivers was still the Chargers’ QB then and threw for two scores, both to Mike Williams (still with the Bolts). Melvin Gordon rushed for 80 yards and a TD. Jared Goff was the Rams’ QB and threw for 354 yards and three TDs, two to Robert Woods and one to Cooper Kupp (out for the 2022 season now due to injury).

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have been an offensive disaster this season after losing QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp to season-ending injuries, but they blew up for 51 points in a rout of visiting Denver on Sunday – it was so ugly, the Broncos fired their head coach. Baker Mayfield, claimed off waivers not long ago, was 24-for-28 for 230 yards and two TDs, and Cam Akers, who earlier this season was expected to be traded, rushed for 118 yards and three TDs. Tight end Tyler Higbee had two TD catches. Rookie Cobie Durant had two interceptions, including an 85-yard return for a score with about four minutes left in the Rams’ first 50-point performance under Sean McVay since a 54- 51 victory over Kansas City in 2018. For at least one more week, Los Angeles avoided becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to lose 11 games. The Rams are 4-1 ATS in their past five games.

Los Angeles Chargers

Coach Brandon Staley could opt to rest some key players the final two games of the regular season because the Chargers clinched their first playoff spot since 2018 on Monday night with a 20-3 win at Indianapolis. All running back Austin Ekeler does is score touchdowns, and he rushed for two more. He easily leads the league in TDs from scrimmage since the start of last season. Justin Herbert threw for 235 yards with a pick, his second straight game without a TD pass. The Chargers’ defence welcomed back Pro Bowl safety Derwin James and intercepted Nick Foles three times. James had one but was ejected for targeting and might be looking at a suspension. LA can only be a wild-card team so how much will it matter to Staley to possibly improve the team’s seeding compared to getting healthy? The Chargers are 5-2-1 ATS in their past eight.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Rams vs. Chargers?