Thursday Night Football prediction: Take Chargers over Chiefs
Photo credit: AP | San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers rolls out to pass in the third quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns. (Oct. 28, 2012)
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CHIEFS (1-6) at
CHARGERS (3-4), 8:20 p.m.
Chargers by 8; O/U: 42 1/2
TV: NFL. Radio: WFAN (660).
I know the goal of the Thursday night game is to give every NFL team a chance to play in prime-time on a Thursday, Sunday or Monday. However, this matchup looks so bad I hope my power isn't turned back on until Friday morning, after this game is over!
That said, it is a divisional game, so here's my attempt to make it appealing: the Chiefs are third in the NFL with 155.1 rushing yards per game. The Chargers boast the No. 2 rushing defense (79.9 ypg).
Since that's a push, I look to both offenses: the Chiefs will start Matt Cassel for the injured Brady Quinn. Cassel is 32nd in QB rating (69.0). The Chargers' Philip Rivers is 19th (82.4) with 1,646 yards, 10 TDs and 9 INTs. Kansas City, which has an NFL-worst turnover margin (-18), has yet to hold a lead in regulation. It's only lead was back in Week 3 when it beat the Saints in OT.
Yikes!
THE PICK: Chargers
