Ravens vs. Chargers Point Spread: NFL Week 16 Odds, Prediction
It’s possible that the Chargers could finish with five more victories than the Ravens and tied for the most wins in the NFL, yet Los Angeles could play in Baltimore on Wild-Card Weekend. Hey, no one said life was fair.
That’s because the Chargers could finish 13-3 and tied atop the AFC West with Kansas City, but Los Angeles would lose a tiebreaker. That would mean a Wild-Card spot and that Saturday’s game would be the team’s last at home this season. If the Chiefs lose at least once in the final two weeks and the Chargers sweep, they would be the AFC’s top seed and not leave home again before the Super Bowl. Both Los Angeles teams could be their conference’s respective top seeds (although less likely in NFC after Rams were upset in Week 15). That city didn’t even have the NFL a couple of years ago.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Baltimore is still in the mix for the AFC North title – in which case it would host a Wild-Card team – and leads for the final Wild-Card spot. The Ravens could also miss the postseason entirely. This will be the Ravens’ first-ever game in Los Angeles. They last played the Chargers in 2015 and won 29-26 at home.
The road team is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.
Baltimore Ravens
If the Ravens win out, they will at worst be the AFC’s second Wild-Card team. They improved to 4-1 under rookie starting quarterback Lamar Jackson with Sunday’s 20-12 win over Tampa Bay. Jackson threw for 131 and a score, but it’s his running that makes the difference, and he rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries. Gus Edwards, who few people had even heard of a little over a month ago, continued his surprising play with 104 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Coach John Harbaugh essentially changed this offence on the fly when QB Joe Flacco went down injured. He’s healthy now but not getting his job back unless Jackson gets injured.
Los Angeles Chargers
Perhaps no team has a pair of more unlikely wins this season than the Chargers. In Week 13 in Pittsburgh, they rallied from a 23-7 halftime deficit and won on a field goal as time expired – it was the biggest home collapse in Steelers history.
Last Thursday, the Chargers were down 14 points three times – including with under four minutes left — at high-powered Kansas City but won 29-28 to clinch a playoff spot. Mike Williams caught a 1-yard TD pass with four seconds left, and Coach Anthony Lynn went for two – and Williams was wide open to convert that. Stunning turn of events. Even more unlikely considering the Chargers played a third straight game without Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon (knee) and lost Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen to a hip injury during the game. Not clear on either’s status yet for this one, although Gordon reportedly is likely to play.
