Two of the best teams in the NFL, who just happen to be in the same division, clash on Thursday night with the Chargers desperately trying to chase down the Chiefs.
Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (11-2) (0120 GMT)
Thursday Night games don’t come much bigger than these two divisional rivals not only battling for the AFC West but also both chasing top spot in the entire conference with just three weeks left of the season.
The Chiefs won 38-28 on the opening day of the season with Patrick Mahomes throwing four touchdowns and he’s not looked back since – tossing 43 TDs in 13 games and 4,300 passing yards.
The Chargers have been playing catch-up ever since and are now in sight if they can snap a four-game losing streak at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Bolts may have to do it without star running back Melvin Gordon, their 13-touchdown star who’s missed two games with a knee injury and will be a game-time decision.
A closer look at @PatrickMahomes5 no-look pass. What ya' looking at? 😎Thank to @kmbc photographer, Cliff Irwin for capturing this. pic.twitter.com/RMf38SEKbl
— Len Jennings (@lenjenningsKMBC) December 10, 2018
Back-up rusher Austin Ekeler is definitely out so rookie Justin Jackson will carry the load but the emphasis will be on QB Philip Rivers to improve his recent record of nine TDs and 14 interceptions in his last nine against the Chiefs.
Joey Bosa’s return has stiffened up the Chargers defence and they’ll need to at least slow down the high-octane Chiefs defence that managed to squeeze past Baltimore’s fearsome rearguard on Sunday.
These two teams will be in the play-offs - they could be the two best teams in the AFC - but this result could have a huge bearing on how those play-offs go given a first-week bye and home-field advantage is at stake.
The quick turnaround is always tough to get over, especially with a division game of this magnitude, and although the Chargers have impressed, playing away in such an environment on a short week is a tough obstacle to overcome.
Verdict: Chiefs to win (-3.5) at Evens
Touchdowns: Travis Kelce & Mike Williams to score TDs at 4/1
RequestABet: Rivers & Mahomes over 250 yards & 2+ passing TDs, over 45 points, Justin Jackson 50+ yards at 7/2
