Los Angeles Chargers vs Denver Broncos Picks and Predictions December 19th 2024

Los Angeles Chargers vs Denver Broncos December 19th 2024

AMZN is set to broadcast the week 16 AFC West matchup between the Broncos and Chargers, with the game being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. The Chargers are favored at -3 on the point spread and have money line odds of -161. The Broncos’ money line odds are +135, and the over/under line is set at 42.5 points. The game is scheduled for Thursday, December 19th at 8:15 ET.

Denver vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Broncos at Chargers
• Where: SoFi Stadium Inglewood
• Date: Thursday, December 19th
• Betting Odds LAC -161 | DEN +135 O/U 42.5

The Broncos Can Win If…

With their 31-13 win over the Colts in week 15, the Broncos extended their winning streak to four games, bringing their record to 9-5. This puts them 2nd in the AFC West and 6th in the conference, giving them a 93.1% chance of making the playoffs. However, they are out of the running for the division title. Despite their strong record, Denver ranks 21st in our NFL power rankings.

Denver is 11-3 against the spread this season, including five straight ATS wins. They covered the 4.5-point spread against the Colts and are 7-0 as favorites. Their O/U record is 9-5, with the over hitting in three consecutive games.

Heading into week 16, the Broncos rank 24th in our offensive power rankings. They are 9th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 24. Despite ranking 10th in passing attempts, they are 23rd in passing yards per game with 202.7. On the ground, they are 16th in rushing attempts and 19th in rushing yards per game, averaging 108.4.

In week 15, Bo Nix threw for 130 yards, completing 20 of 33 passes with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Courtland Sutton led the team with 32 receiving yards on 3 catches. Denver scored 21 points in the 4th quarter against the Colts, converting both of their red zone opportunities and going 6/17 on 3rd down.

In their 31-13 win over the Colts, the Broncos’ defense was dominant, allowing just 161 passing yards and forcing two interceptions. Indianapolis managed only 44.7% completions and just 26.7% on third down. However, the Broncos did struggle against the run, giving up 149 yards on 4.7 yards per attempt.

Denver’s defense limited the Colts to 13 points while also coming away with two sacks and controlling the line of scrimmage, as they had a +9 advantage in quarterback hits and a +2 advantage in tackles for loss. The Broncos secondary didn’t allow any passing touchdowns and held the Colts to 4.2 yards per attempt.

• Over their last three games, the Broncos have gone 3-0 straight up. In addition, their ATS record over this stretch is 3-0 while posting a 3-0 over-under mark.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Denver has a record of 7-3. This includes going 8-2 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 8-2.

The Chargers Can Win If…

Heading into week 16, the Chargers sit 7th in the AFC with an 8-6 record and an 87.7% chance of making the playoffs. After beating the Falcons in week 13, they’ve now dropped two straight, including a 40-17 home loss to the Buccaneers in week 15. The Chargers were favored by 3 points but couldn’t get the win, and the 57 combined points went over the 46-point line.

Our power rankings have the Chargers 16th this week. They have a +3.4 scoring margin and are 9-4-1 against the spread. As favorites, they are 8-2 ATS, but they couldn’t cover vs. the Bucs. Their O/U record is 5-9, with their games averaging 38.6 points compared to a 42.6-point line.

Heading into week 16, the Chargers rank 15th in our offensive power rankings. They are 17th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 21, and 25th in passing yards per game with 196.4, on 28.8 attempts per game. On the ground, they rank 21st in rushing yards per game, with 105.8, on 25.9 attempts per game. They rank 20th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage, with a 37.1% success rate, but have been efficient in the red zone, ranking 6th in the league with a 41.7% conversion rate.

In week 15, the Chargers scored 17 points in a loss to the Buccaneers, with all of their scoring coming in the first half. Justin Herbert threw for 195 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Gus Edwards led the team in rushing with 23 yards on 8 carries, while Ladd McConkey had 5 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. The Chargers struggled on 3rd down, failing to convert any of their 6 attempts, but they did score on 2 of their 3 red zone trips.

In their 40-17 loss to the Buccaneers, the Chargers’ defense struggled to defend the big play, giving up 10.5 yards per attempt in the passing game. They allowed four passing touchdowns and Tampa Bay to complete 81.5% of their passes for 283 yards. The Chargers also struggled to stop the run, allowing 223 yards on 39 attempts.

On third downs, the Chargers allowed the Buccaneers to convert 60% of their chances. Despite their struggles, the Chargers did come up with one interception and had one sack in the game.

• Los Angeles has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 3-0.
• Los Angeles has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the spread was just 5-4-1, in addition to an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

For this week 16 matchup between the Broncos and Chargers, we have the Broncos coming out on top by a score of 23-17. With the point spread at -3 in favor of the Broncos, we like them to not only win but cover as road underdogs.

As for the over/under line, we see this game finishing with 40 combined points, making the under a great pick with the O/U line sitting at just 42.5 points.

Broncos Ride Momentum Toward Playoffs

The Denver Broncos (9-5) head into Thursday night’s AFC West clash against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on a season-best four-game winning streak. Under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos have surged into the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff race after a middling 5-5 start.

Nix has rejuvenated the Broncos’ offense, throwing for three touchdowns in a dominant 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday. However, his performance wasn’t without blemishes, as he also threw a career-high three interceptions.

“I thought I saw the game well,” Nix said. “But I have to keep from turning the ball over.”

Denver’s defense, a cornerstone of its success during this streak, held the Colts to 13 points and delivered a 21-point fourth quarter for a resounding win.

Justin Herbert, Chargers Look to Rebound

The Los Angeles Chargers, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction. Following a 40-17 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, the Chargers have dropped three of their last four games.

QB Justin Herbert, who has been a model of consistency this season, finally faltered against Tampa Bay, throwing his first interception in 12 games. The offense also struggled to find balance, generating a season-low 32 rushing yards.

“It’s just up to us as an offense and us as a team to go out and execute,” Herbert said. “These are the games that matter in December and January.”

Despite their struggles, the Chargers remain in the No. 7 playoff seed with a two-game cushion. A win over Denver could help restore confidence and solidify their postseason standing.

Key Matchups and What to Watch

Bo Nix vs. Chargers’ Secondary

In their first meeting, Nix threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns to spark a late Denver rally, falling just short in a 23-16 loss. The Chargers’ secondary, decimated by injuries, will need to limit Nix’s ability to stretch the field.

Justin Herbert’s Resilience

Playing through a sprained ankle, Herbert faces a Broncos defense that has been lights-out during its win streak. If Herbert isn’t fully mobile, Denver’s pass rush could dictate the game’s pace.

Rushing Attacks

Neither team has found consistency in the ground game recently. Denver will lean on its defense and Nix’s arm, while the Chargers need to establish some rhythm to alleviate pressure on Herbert.

Injury Updates

• Broncos: Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot) was the only player to miss Tuesday’s practice.
• Chargers: Multiple starters, including TE Will Dissly (shoulder) and OL Zion Johnson (ankle), missed practice and could be game-time decisions.

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Playoff Stakes and Prediction

Thursday’s game carries significant playoff implications. A win could allow Denver to maintain its position as the No. 6 seed, while Los Angeles needs to halt its skid to avoid slipping further down the wild-card standings.

The Broncos’ balanced attack and recent momentum should give them the edge over a Chargers team struggling to find its identity.