Chargers Still Underdogs Among AFC Contenders After Beating Chiefs

  • The 11-3 Los Angeles Chargers own a share of the AFC’s best record
  • The Chargers beat the Chiefs 29-28 on TNF of Week 15
  • Still, Bovada rates them behind the Chiefs and Patriots among AFC contenders

If you’re the Los Angeles Chargers today you’re probably wondering what you’ve got to do to get a little love.

Thursday, the Chargers rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Chiefs 29-28 at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chargers hadn’t won in five years, against Kansas City, a team they hadn’t beaten in nine tries.

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You know how many home games the Chiefs had lost this season prior to Thursday? That would be none.

And yet, when Bovada’s futures odds of teams winning the AFC Championship was updated, the Chargers still sat third behind the Chiefs and the New England Patriots.

Odds to Win AFC Championship

Team Odds on Who Will Win AFC Championship at Bovada
Kansas City Chiefs +210
New England Patriots +210
Los Angeles Chargers +400
Houston Texans +800
Pittsburgh Steelers +800

*Follow link in table to see complete list.

With their win on Thursday, the Chargers clinched their first playoff berth since 2013.

Chargers Are Sneaky Good

The Chargers opened the season losing at home to the Chiefs. They were 1-2,  but while that other NFL team from L.A. was getting all the attention, the Chargers quietly rolled off nine straight wins.

The Chargers sit eighth in the NFL in total defense and seventh overall in scoring defense.

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On the other side of the ball, they’re sixth in total offense and fifth in scoring offense. No other AFC contender has anywhere near those kind of numbers in each of these four categories.

Chargers Can Play Defense

Another item that’s unique to the Chargers among the AFC elite is that they can put a stop to you.

The Patriots are the NFL’s 22nd-best defensive squad, but they’re stellar compared to the Chiefs, who rank 30th.

Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are menacing pass rushers. Safety Derwin James leads in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, with 93 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Week 15 Could Decide AFC Champion

Despite Thursday’s loss, the Chiefs still hold the tiebreaker for the AFC West title by virtue of their better divisional record. Both teams face tough tests next week – L.A. at home to the Ravens and K.C. on the road at Seattle.

If the Chiefs can get past the Seahawks, they should cruise at home against the woeful Raiders to close out the regular season. But never underestimate the ability of the Chiefs and coach Andy Reid to lose when it matters most.

The Chargers, along with the Saints the NFL’s only one-loss road teams, finish at Denver.

Should you make a play on the Chargers to win the AFC? Well, they did rally from 14-point deficits to win at Pittsburgh and K.C. Forget the AFC. The Chargers might be the NFL’s best team.

Yeah, you might want to Bolt Up.

The post Chargers Still Underdogs Among AFC Contenders After Beating Chiefs appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/chargers-underdogs-afc-after-beating-chiefs/

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