Chargers at Chiefs: Week 2 TNF Hub
Best bets, projections, exclusive sportsbook offers, staff picks and more
Dan Karpuc - Sep 14, 2022, 7:06pm EDTThe Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) in one of the most highly-anticipated Thursday Night Football matchups in recent years.
BetQL is your one-stop source for best bets, live public and sharp betting data, written analysis, and all of the game-by-game analytics and data you can dream of. Our exclusive sportsbook offers also give you even more opportunities to cash in. Scroll down or click the links below to read our full preview, get insight, trends and analytics, check out some Week 2 offers and view our model’s best bets. Not sold? Review our Week 1 results and see how it pays off to consult our model’s star ratings.
Chargers at Chiefs Best Bets
Chargers-Chiefs Projections
LAC-KC Injury Watch
Chargers WR Keenan Allen (OUT)
Allen will thus target a potential return to action in Week 3, when the Chargers face the Jaguars on Sept. 25. In his absence Thursday night, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter are in line to lead the team's wideout corps versus Kansas City.
Chargers TE Stone Smartt (OUT)
Chiefs WR Justyn Ross (OUT)
Chiefs TE Blake Bell (OUT)
Thursday Night Football Line Shopping
Exclusive TNF Sportsbook Offers
BETMGM: Bet $10, Win $200 If Either Team Scores A TD
If you don't already have a BetMGM account, this is your opportunity to sign up and cash in. Sign up using the button below, make a $10 deposit, bet $10 on any NFL or NCAAF moneyline and you'll get $200 if either team in that game scores a touchdown. Then use that $200 in free bets to wager with BetMGM's money. This is a no-brainer and all you need to commit is $10!
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FANDUEL: NO-SWEAT FIRST BET UP TO $1,000
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POINTSBET: RISK-FREE BET UP TO $500
After you sign up for a new PointsBet account, your first five bets (one per day) are risk-free up to $100 per day. You must use these in the fixed odds markets, but this is a nice change of pace. Rather than one large risk-free bet, you can spread things out over the course of five days and get your feet wet within the new book.
Notable Chargers and Chiefs Trends
Chiefs Trends
Andy Reid has gone 24-7 SU (54% ROI) in September games while coaching Kansas City.
Andy Reid is 28-9 SU (50.7%) in the first month of the season while coaching Kansas City.
Andy Reid is 41-12 SU (39.1% ROI) versus division opponents while coaching Kansas City.
Andy Reid is 26-6 SU (49.1% ROI) after outgaining opp by 100 or more total yards in their previous game while coaching Kansas City.
Andy Reid is 73-47 ATS 1H against conference opponents while coaching Kansas City.
Chargers Trends
The Los Angeles Chargers are 11- 2 ATS 1H versus division opponents over the last three years.
Chargers at Chiefs: What To Watch For
The AFC West will be a gauntlet the entire season for every team involved. The Chargers are already coming off of a 24-19 win over one division rival in the Raiders, and now see the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, with Patrick Mahomes having thrown for 360 yards and whopping five touchdowns against the Cardinals on Sunday in a 44-21 win.
Los Angeles Chargers
Khalil Mack was a monster in his Chargers debut, with three sacks to add to a defense that had three picks of Derek Carr in the process. Patrick Mahomes can certainly move more than Carr, but you can expect LA to look and disrupt him as much as possible, hoping he'll make similar mistakes on the run. Mack was brought in to clearly help in that role given the talent the Chargers will see this year at quarterback, and he certainly showed the impact he'll have this season alongside Joey Bosa.
Justin Herbert also went 26-for-34 for 279 yards and three TDs in Sunday's win, but did lose receiver Keenan Allen to a hamstring injury.
A lot of early money has been coming in on the underdog Chargers, who are 11-2 against the first half spread when playing divisional opponents over the last three years.
Kansas City Chiefs
Well, no one should really be surprised by what we saw this past Sunday from Mahomes. Obviously, losing Tyreek Hill is a big deal in terms of the loss of a major downfield weapon, but their offense didn't miss a beat, spreading the ball around with ten different receivers at least getting a target, and nine had at least with a catch.
That's not the only area they spread the ball out though, with five different players carrying the ball, with seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco leading the way on 12 carries for 62 yards.
So yeah, the Chargers' defense will have their work cut out for them trying to focus on so many potential weapons.
READ: Full Prediction
LAC-KC BetQL Staff Picks
Dan Karpuc: Over 54.5 Total Points
In Week 1 against the Cardinals, the Chiefs ran 66 offensive plays and picked up 33 first downs on 488 yards of total offense (7.4 yards per play). In the blowout win, Patrick Mahomes was insane per usual (30-for-39 passing for 360 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT) and used a bunch of his weapons in the passing game. The Chiefs passed the ball 39 times and ran it 27 times and I expect that pass-heavy approach to continue into this game.
The Chargers also boast an amazing offense and while Keenan Allen (hamstring) most likely won’t suit up in this game, there are some incredible playmakers on their team, most notably Justin Herbert, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler. Herbert went 26-for-34 for 279 yards, three TDs and no INTs in Week 1 against the Raiders and should be slinging the pigskin a ton in this game since he will need to keep up with Mahomes’ production. I wouldn’t be shocked if this game ends up in the 70-plus point range.
Nick Ashooh: Over 54.5
Both sides have potent offenses, and this is likely to be a shootout of a game, even if the Chargers are able to generate some turnovers with their pass rush. These teams combined for 62 and 54 points in their two meetings last season.
The Chiefs offense didn't miss a beat Week 1 without Tyreek Hill as a downfield weapon, instead targeting 10 different receivers with nine making at least one catch. The Chargers' defense will have their work cut out for them trying to focus on so many potential weapons.
Lucy Burdge: Chiefs -210 vs. Chargers
The Chiefs are coming off a big, 44-21 win against the Cardinals, and I think K.C. will make it a 2-0 start to the season with a win at home against the Chargers in Week 2. BetQL points out some trends that favor the Chiefs to win: While coaching Kansas City, Andy Reid is 24-7 SU in September, 42-17 after a win by 10 or more points and 26-6 after outgaining opponents by 100 or more total yards in the previous game. So, I think the Chiefs can pull off a win against the Chargers in this one.
Brad Pinkerton: Chargers +175
While I do think the Chiefs will win this game, the Chargers moneyline is my play for DraftKings' "Up By 7 Early Win" promotion for TNF. Asking the Chargers to lead by seven at any point to get you an early win is much easier than asking them to beat the Chiefs outright. And while both teams have a great shot at leading by 7 at some point and cashing early for you, L.A. offers the higher payout, so Chargers +175 will be my play on DraftKings on Thursday night.
