Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs TNF Last-Minute Odds, Betting Preview, and Predictions
Chiefs vs Chargers TNF Last-Minute Odds, Betting Preview and Predictions
The Kansas City Chiefs will look to avoid a series sweep when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers upset the Chiefs 30-24 at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3 to take the 1-0 lead in their head-to-head series. Fast forward to Week 15: the Chargers worked their way into position to challenge for the top spot in the AFC West with a victory at SoFi Stadium tonight.
So, with the stakes so high, we preview this highly anticipated showdown between two of the league’s most exciting teams that feature electric offenses spearheaded by naturally gifted gunslingers and serve up last-minute predictions and picks.
Kansas City Chiefs (9-4-0) vs Los Angeles Chargers (8-5-0)
- Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021
- Time: 8:20 PM ET
- Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- TV Broadcast: NFL Network
Click Here For Chargers vs Chiefs Odds
Kansas City Chiefs Preview
For some strange reason, the Raiders thought it would be a good idea to hold a pregame huddle on the Kansas City Chiefs logo at midfield and draw the wrath of the thousands of fans at Arrowhead Stadium while simultaneously riling up the Chiefs with the “disrespectful” act. If the aim was a good spanking, then they got exactly that. Job well done. Although, somehow, it’s hard to believe that that was the objective.
Mahomes and the Chiefs responded by delivering a beatdown the Raiders won’t soon forget. Mahomes shredded the Raiders defense, going for a near-perfect 20 of 24 for 254 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Clyde Helaire-Edwards had two touchdowns while Derrick Gore added another rushing score. Tyreek Hill led the team in receiving with 76 yards, while Darrel Williams and Josh Gordon connected with Mahomes for touchdown passes.
The defense harassed Derek Carr constantly, forcing an interception and a fumble for a loss. The Chiefs defense added three more fumbles to their credit. It was a dominant defensive performance all around that exposed the Raiders for the upstarts they are. Bet they didn’t do an extra lap of Arrowhead Stadium this time around.
Los Angeles Chargers Preview
The Chargers are coming off a convincing 37-21 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium. The quality of the opponent isn’t much to hang one’s hat on, but that shouldn’t take away from a sublime performance and, at times, downright otherworldy play from Justin Herbert. Some of the throws the sophomore made are beyond the capability of most.
Herbert finished with 23 of 31 for 275 yards and three touchdowns, one of which was a breath-taking, 70-yard (or just under) pass to Jaylen Guyton that will make the highlight reel for weeks to come.
The win over the Giants marked the second-straight win and third in the last four by the Chargers as they improved to an 8-5 record and into second place in the AFC West. Herbert led the Chargers to a 41-37 win over the Steelers and a 41-22 win over the Bengals in Week 13. Over the last four games, the Chargers offense has averaged 33 points per game - the only hiccup was a 28-13 loss to the Denver Broncos in this span.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Odds
| Team | Moneyline | ML Implied Win Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | -160 | 61.5% | -3 (-115) | O 50.5 (-130) |
| Chargers | +150 | 40% | +3 (+100) | U 50.5 (+140) |
Click Here for Chargers vs Chiefs Odds
Advanced lines projected the Chiefs at -3 before Week 14, and after Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs absolutely decimated the Las Vegas Raiders in a 48-9 rout, the markets opened with the Chiefs at -3 on Sunday night. Instantly, the line jumped up by half a point as bettors jumped on the Kansas City bandwagon. The ceiling came when the Chiefs hit -4 at multiple top-rated sportsbooks before buyback on the Chargers brought the line back down to 3 points, where it currently sits just hours before kickoff.
The game total opened on 49.5 to 50 points with many market operators, and it wasn’t long before it pushed beyond the 50-point mark. The total has steadily moved up. Currently, it sits anywhere between 52.5 to 53.5 points, depending on the choice sportsbook.
NFL Predictions and Picks
The Mahomes-Herbert rivalry that is centric to the overarching Chiefs-Chargers rivalry is sure to capture the imagination of fans for years to come. It’s only the fourth meeting between the pair, and the entire NFL world is salivating at the prospect of their showdown.
Mahomes and the Chiefs have the championship pedigree and the clout to win this high-stakes game. That kind of experience is invaluable when the chips are down. It’s why they emerge as the odds makers’ favorite here. However, Herbert, from his first start last season – which came against the Chiefs in Week 2, ironically – has shown he can go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs. This season, he went one better and pulled off the upset – on the road, no less. It’s these sorts of performances that have bettors backing the Chargers as the 3-point home underdogs in this game.
There is value on both sides of the coin, and to say otherwise would be silly. The Chiefs or the Chargers could win and cover this game. It’s that simple. Bettors could do no worse than back either side for their NFL picks. Arguably, the best bet that most can agree on is likely the over for the game total. The explosiveness of both offenses could see a shootout for the ages tonight.
Chargers vs. Chiefs Pick: OVER 52.5 (-120)
Nikki Adams is a freelance sports writer that’s honed in on the world of sports betting. She joined OddsChecker in 2021 after having covered a number of major American sports, including NFL and NCAAF, for several other publications in the industry. When she’s not looking for the best betting angles and writing engaging and insightful articles, she’s likely on a tennis court or binging on reality TV.