TNF Preview and Bets: Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Gambling Opinion by: Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt
Week 2 of the NFL 2022-23 season begins with the Chargers heading to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. Two of the best, if not the best young quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert who both had good performances in Week 1 will be fighting to see who will stay undefeated.
TNF: Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (-4)
Ethan's Take:
It appears that the Chargers will be coming into this game short-handed after wide receiver Keenan Allen went down last week with a hamstring injury. I don't think it is likely that he plays with a quick turnaround to play Thursday night but that may change. Assuming Allen doesn't play this week, there will be a lot of targets available for a Chargers receiver room that lacks depth. The Chiefs will more than likely put more focus on receiver Mike Williams so I think that Chargers running back Austin Ekeler will be more involved in the pass game. Last week in the game between the Chiefs and Cardinals, Cardinals running back had 5 receptions, he only averaged 2.46 receptions per game last season through 15 games.
With these two teams it always is expected to be a shootout but in the first half in recent years that has not been the case. The current total line for the first half in Thursday's game is at O/U 27.5 points. This line has only been hit in one out of the last six games between these two squads with 20 or less points being scored in the first half of four of these games. I think the Chargers defense has greatly improved compared to last year. Even off pure eye test they held a slightly above average Derek Carr and Davonte Adams led Raiders offense to only 19 points last week.
Josh's Take:
The impact of the loss of Keenan Allen for Justin Herbert and company cannot be overstated. All signs point to Allen being out for the Chargers week two matchup against the Chiefs. You can never be too cautious with hamstring injuries, especially with a playmaker like Keenan Allen. Austin Ekeler looks to have a bounce back week after posting just 36 yards on 14 attempts, even though he caught 4 passes for 36 yards— I personally expect him to do more this week. Gerald Everett seems to be poised to be the number one or two passing option this week, behind only Mike Williams, I expect both of their usage rates to be off the charts.
The Chiefs came out firing on all cylinders against the Cardinals in their first contest, and I don’t expect that trend to slow down anytime soon. I see the Chiefs potentially having a slow first half against a TOUGH Chargers defense— but figuring things out in the second half. I see the line of 13.5 second half points as a cake walk for Kansas City, especially considering they put up 21 points in the second half last week, and they’ve tended to be second half scorers— especially against the AFC West. I see a TON of targets for both Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had 9 and 8 last week—and I don’t believe that Clyde Edwards-Helaire will achieve as many touches, especially considering the loaded front seven fornthe Chargers. I consider Smith-Schuster a smart play at o5.5 receptions due to the fact that he has good hands, a top quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes, and the prop is currently set at plus money.
Ethan's Bets:
Austin Ekeler Receptions o4.5 (-114) (Fanduel)
Chargers @ Chiefs 1H Total u27.5 (-130)
(Fanduel)
Josh's Bet(s):
Chiefs 2H Total o13.5 (-134) (Fanduel)
JuJu Smith-Schuster o5.5 Receptions (+134) (Fanduel)