The Denver Broncos look to build on their recent success when they welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday. Here’s our preview, which includes a prediction, using the best NFL odds from the top sportsbooks.
NFL Pick: Chargers -3 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Chargers vs. Broncos
Sunday, October 13, 2024 – 04:05 PM ET at Empower Field at Mile High
Chargers Stumble Against Chiefs
The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a disappointing 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium on September 29. Despite Justin Herbert’s determined play, the Chargers struggled to protect their star quarterback. A patchy offensive line and several questionable decisions left Los Angeles falling short once again to their division rivals.
Kansas City, showing why they’re the top contenders in the AFC West, executed the right plays at the right moments. The Chargers’ defense deserves praise for holding the Chiefs to just 17 points across 10 drives, a feat that’s becoming routine under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. However, with the offense failing to sustain drives, the defense was eventually stretched too thin.
The Chargers’ offensive woes were glaring, with three drives ending in zero or negative yards, and three others barely gaining more than nine yards. This inefficiency handed Kansas City favorable field position, giving the Chiefs control of the game’s tempo.
Los Angeles managed to convert two Chiefs’ turnovers into 10 points—a fumble by Carson Steele and Patrick Mahomes’ fifth interception of the season—but couldn’t capitalize further. Their struggles continued as they went three-and-out on four of their final eight possessions.
A key opportunity to take the lead early in the fourth quarter slipped away. After reaching the Kansas City 3-yard line, Herbert’s fourth-and-1 pass to Hayden Hurst fell incomplete under pressure from Chris Jones and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Herbert, who was sacked twice and hit 10 times on 31 dropbacks, completed all seven of his first-quarter passes but connected on just 9 of 20 attempts for the rest of the game.
The Chargers’ running game has also regressed, gaining just 55 rushing yards at a 2.3 yards-per-carry clip. Their offense’s inability to control the ground game further exposed Herbert to a relentless Chiefs’ pass rush.
Broncos Break Through Against Raiders
Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Las Vegas Raiders with an emphatic 34-18 win on Sunday. Rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II had a career game, grabbing two interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-six that erased an early 10-0 deficit. His second interception set up another Denver touchdown, helping the Broncos pull away in the second half.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who struggled against the Jets the previous week, rebounded with a breakout performance. Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, spreading the ball to a franchise-record 11 different receivers. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 206 yards, and most importantly, avoided turnovers.
Denver’s defense also stepped up. First-year starter Riley Moss made his mark with his first career interception, adding to his growing resume of big plays in recent weeks. The Broncos’ defensive resurgence helped propel them to their first victory over the Raiders since December 29, 2019.
Key Matchups to Watch
Herbert’s protection has been a recurring issue, and it’s impacted his performance over the last few weeks. He’ll face a Denver secondary that’s coming off a momentum-building game. Surtain is emerging as a top-tier shutdown corner and will likely match up against the Chargers’ top receiver, Ladd McConkey. If Herbert can’t find time in the pocket, it’ll be tough to generate big plays against Denver’s opportunistic defense.
The Chargers have failed to establish a reliable ground game, averaging just 55 yards in their last contest. This has made their offense predictable and put additional pressure on Herbert. The Broncos’ run defense has had its ups and downs, but if they can stymie the Chargers’ rushing attack early, they’ll force Los Angeles into long passing situations, allowing Denver’s pass rush to tee off.
Nix’s breakout game came against an injury-riddled Raiders defense, and the Chargers present a tougher challenge. However, the rookie has shown poise, balancing the passing and running games to keep defenses on their heels. If the Chargers’ defense can pressure Nix early and force mistakes, they could put Denver in a difficult spot, but if Nix can replicate his balanced performance, the Broncos could control the pace of the game.
Neither team has been dominant in the red zone this season, and this game could hinge on which squad can convert their opportunities. The Chargers have faltered on key fourth downs, while Denver showed marked improvement last week, scoring on four straight red zone trips. The ability to cash in rather than settle for field goals could be the difference-maker.
Denver’s win over Las Vegas was fueled by defensive scores and short fields created by turnovers. The Chargers, meanwhile, have struggled with ball security and have had issues on special teams. A key takeaway or a blocked punt could swing momentum in what figures to be a tight contest.
NFL Pick
Both teams enter this matchup desperate for momentum. While the Broncos’ defensive resurgence and Nix’s improved play are encouraging, Herbert’s experience and skill should be enough to pull the Chargers through—albeit in a nail-biter. Expect a back-and-forth affair, with the Chargers narrowly escaping with the win.
NFL Pick: Chargers -3 (-110) at Bet365
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
