Big Game Report #123

By Chase Bailkin

Kansas City Chiefs

(1-1)

VS

Los Angeles Chargers

(1-1)

3rd AFC West

4th AFC West

Fanduel Odds

We are due for some fun football in this one. Both teams have electrifying play makers on offense led by elite young quarterbacks - the question is: which defense will step up? The Chargers have a better defense right now, but that doesn’t much matter against the Chiefs offense who can find ways to score against any team. The Chiefs were rolling against Baltimore last week, but they’re defense didn’t hold up and they lost in tragic fashion with a Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumble to end the game. The Chargers on the other hand couldn’t score more than 17 points against a bad Cowboys defense AT HOME, which tells me they are still working out a lot of kinks on that side of the ball. I think we see a similar outcome in this game despite the firepower of the offenses. I expect Mahomes to connect with one of his receivers for a long touchdown at least once, but for the Chargers defense to hold up for most of this one. I also expect the Chargers to target Ekeler many times in this one - he’s been super effective for them this far, getting targets on the ground and through the air and a focal point in the red-zone. As much as you want to take the over on this game - DON’T. The Chargers defense is better than you think and the Chiefs defense is looking to tighten up. Despite the electric offenses, this will be a relatively low scoring game. Take the under 54.5 total points, Patrick Mahomes longest completion over 37.5 yards, Austin Ekeler to score a touchdown (+120), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire under 56.5 rushing yards.