After Slow Start, Chargers Given +400 Odds to Win AFC West; Is There Value?
- Chargers opened the season at +190 to win AFC West
- Odds gap between L.A. and K.C. is massive now
- Next up for Chargers: Dolphins, Broncos, Steelers and Titans
It wasn’t that long ago the Los Angeles Chargers were considered legitimate contenders to win the AFC West Division.
Three weeks into the NFL season, the Chargers have seen their NFL Divisional odds drop to +400.
Is there value in taking the Chargers to win the AFC West after opening the year with a 1-2 record?
2019 AFC West Division Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs | -500 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +400 |
| Oakland Raiders | +2500 |
| Denver Broncos | +3500 |
Odds taken on September 23, 2019.
In late August, the gap between the Chargers and favorite Kansas City Chiefs was at its smallest, as Los Angeles was listed at +180 odds to win the division. The Chiefs were at -160 in the same period.
Going into their Week 3 game against the Houston Texans, the Chargers dropped to +290 while KC remained the -350 favorites. After falling to the Texans on Sunday, the Chargers are now +400 while odds on the Chiefs to win the AFC West shortened to -500.
The Chargers opened the season with a win but back-to-back losses have now dropped them into a tie for second with the Raiders at 1-2.
Chargers Charging on Offense
Offense has not been the real issue for the Chargers, who rank sixth overall in total yards this season (1,225). Philip Rivers and the Chargers have scored 60 points in three games and while there is room for improvement on their current PPG average of 20, Los Angeles has enough offensive talent to win games.
The problem for the Chargers has come on the defensive side of the ball. The team currently has a yards per game average of 363.7, which ranks in the bottom half of the league heading into Week 4.
Philip Rivers moves into 4th for the MOST 300 yard passing games in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/yVYx8srH7h
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 22, 2019
Where have the Chargers gone wrong through three weeks of action?
Their second-week loss to the Detroit Lions came as a complete shocker as the Chargers were only able to score 10 points on Matt Patricia’s defense.
There is some hope in the next few weeks ahead as the Chargers travel to Miami for a game against the winless Dolphins in Week 4. That will be followed by matchups against the Broncos, Steelers and Titans — all below .500 teams with a combined record of 1-8.
Rivers Off to Strong Start
You can’t really pin the blame on Rivers, who is off to a strong start this season. The 37-year-old QB, in his 15th NFL season, sits third in passing yards (944) behind Patrick Mahomes and Andy Dalton. Rivers has also thrown five TD passes and just two interceptions through three games.
Big Ben – Out for the Season
Eli Manning – Bench for a Rookie
Philip Rivers: Still going strong pic.twitter.com/fq4HvNs8Yt— 🍻T Dawg Jenkins🍻 (@gohead287) September 17, 2019
Of course, with wide receiver Keenan Allen healthy, you can expect Rivers to maintain strong offensive numbers all season long. Allen already has 404 receiving yards and three touchdowns heading into the fourth week of action.
The Chargers have struggled in the running game with only two rushing touchdowns this season — both coming from Austin Ekeler.
With the Chargers at 1-2 after three weeks, is there any value in betting on them at +400 to win the AFC West?
Incredible.
Keenan Allen put his defender on skates, then hit'em with the LT celebration after scoring 🔥🔥
(via @Chargers) pic.twitter.com/w0rUtv40hR
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 22, 2019
Even if the Chargers were at 2-1, my answer would still probably be no considering the Chiefs look like a well-oiled machine at 3-0 and have showed no signs of slowing down.
Patrick Mahomes has picked up where he left off a year ago when the Chiefs pivot threw 50 touchdown passes. The defending NFL MVP has thrown four 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns three weeks in.
While the Chargers may still be considered a strong choice to make the playoffs in 2019, there will be no stopping the Chiefs from topping the AFC West at this pace.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (-500)
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
