The NFL will feature two Monday Night Football games this week. We’ll dive deep into the Chargers-Cardinals matchup, which is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
A game this late truly stinks for the East Coast football watchers. What’s more incredibly confusing is that this game can only be found on ESPN+ and isn’t even on live television. It’s still an intriguing game with plenty of value. Therefore, we’ll discuss all the stats and analytics and provide the best bet for this game before heading to our top-rated sportsbooks!
NFL Pick
- Chargers ML (-135) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Monday, October 21, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at State Farm Stadium
Los Angeles Is Back In The Win Column
The Los Angeles Chargers haven’t been the most consistent team in the NFL. However, they’re 3-2 and fighting for a playoff spot mid-season.
The Chargers most recently defeated the Denver Broncos 23-16. They got a 20-0 lead and almost blew the game because they played too conservatively, but that’s what the Chargers do.
They’re looking to control the clock and win the time of possession. They want to wear down defenses and be the team that gets off on third downs. The Chargers did that against a very good Denver team last week.
Now, to be fair, the Chargers haven’t defeated any big teams. They have wins against opponents who won’t even be close to the playoffs. And the reality is that the Arizona Cardinals will likely be another team that will miss the playoffs. These are the types of teams the Chargers love to play.
Los Angeles has held its opponents to only 13.20 points per game. They’ve also held teams to 192 yards in the air and just 97.20 yards on the ground. This is a terrific defense led by a dominant secondary and a good run defense. The pass rush could be better, but the tackling is weak. However, this is still a team building. They’ll only improve as the season progresses defensively.
Arizona Can’t Afford Another Loss
The Arizona Cardinals probably can’t afford to go 2-5 through the first seven games. The Cardinals have already lost three of their last four games, including a 34-13 loss to the Packers on the road last week.
Here’s a look at Arizona’s defensive statistics for the season:
- 27.17 points per game allowed.
- A pass defense that has given up 220.33 and hasn’t looked very good.
- A run defense that has allowed 153 yards per game.
The Chargers would love to run the football down Arizona’s throat the entire game. For one, they’ll get short-to-gain situations and can add lots of plays into one drive. Second, they’ll keep the turnovers down. Finally, the Chargers can win the battle of field position all by just running the football.
All Offense, No Defense
Arizona is a work in progress on defense but still has an offense worth talking about.
The Cardinals have scored 22.17 points per game behind Kyler Murray at quarterback. Murray has thrown for 8 touchdowns and has only added 2 interceptions. He’s also rushed for another touchdown and has averaged 8.7 yards a carry. His QBR is currently 8th in the NFL. He’s been good. But the defense hasn’t really helped the Cardinals.
The Chargers play solid complementary football. The Cardinals don’t. That’s the difference heading into this game.
The Pick
The Chargers should be able to limit the Cardinals on the ground. It’s also likely the Cardinals will win the time of possession and limit turnovers better. The defense has played very well recently. The Chargers just can’t get too conservative when up big because that’s the only way they’ll lose this game outright.
After all, the Chargers still have Justin Herbert at quarterback. He’s not having a season to remember in the stats column. However, he’s managing the team nicely and helping get wins. That’s all you can ask from your starting quarterback.
If he’s bought in, the rest of the team will be, too. Let’s back the Chargers at -135 on the moneyline for the late Monday night showdown on ESPN+. This will hopefully be a wake and cash for some East Coast folks!
NFL Pick: Chargers ML (-135) at Caesars Sportsbook
*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.
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