Chargers vs. Chiefs, 12/29/19 NFL Week 17 Predictions & Betting Odds

Chargers vs. Chiefs Week 17 Prediction

The Chiefs still have an outside shot at the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture but need to beat the Chargers today and have the Patriots lose to the Dolphins, which is unlikely. Thus, is it wise for bettors to lay the 10 points with Kansas City?

Game Snapshot

125 Los Angeles Chargers (+10) at 126 Kansas City Chiefs (-10); O/U 45.5

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 29, 2019

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Public Betting Odds

According to our NFL Public Betting Chart page, the Chiefs are drawing 70% of the betting tickets ahead of tonight’s game.

Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Spin

Philip Rivers (thumb) was upgraded to full participation at Thursday's practice. Rivers saw a lighter load than usual during Wednesday's session but was back to full participation only a day later. His status for Sunday's finale against Kansas City was never in doubt. With free agency on the horizon, Week 17 could be the last time we see Rivers don a Chargers uniform.

Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Spin

Chiefs placed RB Spencer Ware (shoulder) on injured reserve. The team activated DT Xavier Williams from injured reserve in a corresponding move. Ware's short-lived return to the field for Kansas City comes to a close with 17/51 (3.0 yards per carry) rushing and 5/22 receiving as the team's primary pass-blocking back from Week 14 on. It will be interesting to see if the Chiefs activate LeSean McCoy for Sunday's matchup behind Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson with Ware officially done for the year. The Chiefs can lock up a first-round bye with a win and Patriots loss in Week 17.

Los Angeles

The Chargers are 10-4-1 against the spread in their last 15 road games and are 7-3-1 against the number in their last 11 games as an underdog.

Kansas City

The Chiefs are 5-1 against the number in their last six games versus the Chargers but are just 2-5 at the betting window in their last seven games versus L.A. at Arrowhead.

NFL Week 17 Prediction

The Chargers have only lost by more than seven points once this season but they’ve also played a relatively easy schedule and are still dreadful. Thus, I don’t know how much can be glean from the fact that they’ve played close games in losses. What we do know is that they only rushed for 19 yards last week and their offensive line has turned Rivers into a human piñata. Without left tackle Russell Okung, the Chargers’ offense doesn’t stand much of a chance against an improved Kansas City defense that is allowing just 10 points per game over the team’s current five-game winning streak. And as much as the Bolts’ secondary will provide a challenge for Patrick Mahomes and Co., the Chiefs offense should have ample opportunities to score with great field position set up by their defense. There is some concern that if the Patriots get up big against the Dolphins that KC will start sending starters to the bench, although that’s no slam dunk. I’d rather lay the points with the better team and risk Andy Reid pulling starters in the second half.

NFL WEEK 17 PREDICTION: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -10