The Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos have had their postseason fates sealed already. With the Chargers already in the postseason, and the Broncos confirmed to be out of it, the Chargers’ seeding is all that is left to be decided for these two teams. In our NFL betting picks for the final week of the regular season, we break down the Chargers vs Broncos Week 18 matchup.
Chargers vs Broncos Betting Pick
| ℹ️ The Pick: | Chargers -3.5 |
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This game will be played at Empower Field at Mile High at 4:25 PM ET on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
Why Bet the Chargers:
✅ The Chargers still have something to play for this season in Week 18. They need a win to ensure that they get the fifth seed in the AFC, while a loss could make them vulnerable to dropping to sixth and facing a top-three team in the first round.
✅ Denver’s offense had a nice game against the Chiefs last week. However, they are still the worst scoring offense in the NFL this season, averaging just 16.0 points per game.
✅ The Chargers are 10-5-1 against the spread this season, the fourth best ATS record in the NFL. They will get the job done here to move to 11-5-1 against the number.
NFL
Los Angeles Chargers
Denver Broncos
Team Stats
Passing
Offense/Defense
| LAC | Passing | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 178 | CMP | 239 |
| 279 | ATT | 360 |
| 63.8 | CMP% | 66.4 |
| 204.8 | YDS/GM | 190.7 |
| 7.9 | Y/A | 6.4 |
| 6.7 | NY/A | 5.3 |
| 1 | INT | 8 |
| 26 | SK | 39 |
Defense/Offense
| LAC | Passing | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 214 | CMP | 237 |
| 340 | ATT | 360 |
| 62.9 | CMP% | 65.8 |
| 206.6 | YDS/GM | 196.5 |
| 6.6 | Y/A | 6.4 |
| 5.5 | NY/A | 5.7 |
| 9 | INT | 6 |
| 34 | SK | 18 |
Rushing
Offense/Defense
| LAC | Rushing | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | G | 11 |
| 291 | ATT | 286 |
| 1216 | YDS | 1085 |
| 121.6 | Y/G | 98.6 |
| 4.2 | Y/A | 3.8 |
| 10 | TD | 6 |
| 1 | TD/G | 0.5 |
Defense/Offense
| LAC | Rushing | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | G | 11 |
| 235 | ATT | 295 |
| 1105 | YDS | 1276 |
| 110.5 | Y/G | 116.0 |
| 4.7 | Y/A | 4.3 |
| 3 | TD | 8 |
| 0.3 | TD/G | 0.7 |
Special Teams
Offense/Defense
| LAC | Special Teams | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Punts/Ret | 20 |
| 199 | Punt/Yds | 168 |
| 13.3 | Punt/Y/R | 8.4 |
| 8 | Kick Off/Ret | 16 |
| 230 | Kick Off/Yds | 390 |
| 28.8 | Kick Off/Y/rt | 24.4 |
Defense/Offense
| LAC | Special Teams | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Punts/Ret | 21 |
| 199 | Punt/Yds | 279 |
| 9.5 | Punt/Y/R | 13.3 |
| 16 | Kick Off/Ret | 12 |
| 456 | Kick Off/Yds | 337 |
| 28.5 | Kick Off/Y/rt | 28.1 |
Scoring
Offense/Defense
| LAC | Scoring | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | G | 11 |
| 10 | RshTD | 6 |
| 13 | RecTD | 12 |
| 21 | FGM | 19 |
| 23 | FGA | 20 |
| 22.0 | Pts/G | 16.6 |
Defense/Offense
| LAC | Scoring | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | G | 11 |
| 3 | RshTD | 8 |
| 12 | RecTD | 15 |
| 13 | FGM | 19 |
| 21 | FGA | 22 |
| 14.5 | Pts/G | 21.4 |
Team Advanced Defense
| LAC | Defense | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| 20.0% | Bltz% | 34.7% |
| 3.0% | Hrry% | 8.1% |
| 4.7% | QB Hit% | 10.8% |
| 15.5% | QB Prss% | 26.6% |
Injuries
| Name | Position | Injury | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Trainer | OT | Undisclosed | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Austin Johnson | DL | Knee (mcl) | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Bryce Callahan | CB | Groin | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Christian Covington | DL | Pectoral | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Damon Lloyd | LB | Undisclosed | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Dustin Hopkins | K | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Easton Stick | QB | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Forrest Merrill | DL | Undisclosed | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Isaac Weaver | C | Undisclosed | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Isaiah Spiller | RB | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Jalen Guyton | WR | Knee (acl) | Out | 01/08/23 |
| J.C. Jackson | CB | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Joe Gaziano | DL | Groin | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Kemon Hall | CB | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Michael Bandy | WR | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Otito Ogbonnia | DL | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Rashawn Slater | OT | Biceps | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Richard Rodgers | TE | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Storm Norton | OT | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Taylor Bertolet | K | Undisclosed | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Tyeler Davison | DT | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Zander Horvath | FB | Ankle | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Trey Pipkins III | OT | Knee | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| Amen Ogbongbemiga | LB | Ankle | Probable | 01/05/23 |
| Derwin James Jr. | S | Concussion | Probable | 01/05/23 |
| Jamaree Salyer | G | Shoulder | Probable | 01/05/23 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | Shoulder | Probable | 01/05/23 |
| Troy Reeder | LB | Back | Probable | 01/05/23 |
| Name | Position | Injury | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Patrick | OLB | Knee (acl) | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Caden Sterns | S | Hip | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Calvin Anderson | OT | Ankle | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Christopher Allen | OLB | Foot | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Dakota Allen | LB | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Dalton Risner | G | Elbow | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Damarea Crockett | RB | Acl | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Damarri Mathis | CB | Head | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Darius Phillips | CB | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| D.J. Jones | DT | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Dre'Mont Jones | DE | Hip | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Garett Bolles | OT | Leg | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Greg Dulcich | TE | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Jacob Martin | OLB | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Jarrett Guarantano | QB | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Javonte Williams | RB | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Jonas Griffith | ILB | Ankle | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Jonathan Kongbo | OLB | Illness | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Kendall Hinton | WR | Chest/foot | Out | 01/08/23 |
| KJ Hamler | WR | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Lloyd Cushenberry III | C | Groin | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Marlon Mack | RB | Hamstring | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Mike Boone | RB | Ankle | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Mitchell Fraboni | LS | Finger | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Montrell Washington | WR | Gameday Inactive | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Randy Gregory | OLB | Knee | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Ronald Darby | CB | Acl | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Tim Patrick | WR | Acl | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Tom Compton | OL | Back | Out | 01/08/23 |
| Andrew Beck | TE | Elbow | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| Jerry Jeudy | WR | Ankle | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| K'Waun Williams | CB | Knee | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| Mike Purcell | DL | Elbow/ankle | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| P.J. Locke | S | Ankle | Questionable | 01/04/23 |
| Quinn Meinerz | OL | Foot | Questionable | 01/06/23 |
| Baron Browning | LB | Back | Probable | 01/06/23 |
| Billy Turner | OL | Back | Probable | 01/08/23 |
| Eric Saubert | TE | Knee | Probable | 01/08/23 |
| Eric Tomlinson | TE | Ankle | Probable | 01/08/23 |
| Nik Bonitto | OLB | Elbow | Probable | 01/05/23 |
Betting Trends
| LAC | Betting Trends | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| OVERALL | OVERALL | |
| 3-0-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 1-2-0 |
| 2-0-1 | ATS W/L/P | 2-1-0 |
| 22.67 | Avg Score | 20.67 |
| 9 | Avg Opp Score | 31 |
| AWAY | HOME | |
| 2-1-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 1-2-0 |
| 1-2-0 | ATS W/L/P | 2-1-0 |
| 21.67 | Avg Score | 22.67 |
| 18 | Avg Opp Score | 23.67 |
| LAC | Betting Trends | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| OVERALL | OVERALL | |
| 4-1-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 1-4-0 |
| 3-1-1 | ATS W/L/P | 4-1-0 |
| 22.2 | Avg Score | 19.8 |
| 14.2 | Avg Opp Score | 27.4 |
| AWAY | HOME | |
| 3-2-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 1-4-0 |
| 3-2-0 | ATS W/L/P | 2-3-0 |
| 20.2 | Avg Score | 17.2 |
| 18.6 | Avg Opp Score | 19.8 |
| LAC | Betting Trends | DEN |
|---|---|---|
| OVERALL | OVERALL | |
| 6-4-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 2-8-0 |
| 6-3-1 | ATS W/L/P | 5-5-0 |
| 22.2 | Avg Score | 16.5 |
| 20.1 | Avg Opp Score | 23.2 |
| AWAY | HOME | |
| 5-5-0 | Win/Loss/Tie | 4-6-0 |
| 6-4-0 | ATS W/L/P | 5-5-0 |
| 25 | Avg Score | 18.5 |
| 24.8 | Avg Opp Score | 17.1 |
Head to Head
Teams Last 10
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Kansas City Chiefs
The Los Angeles Chargers won the battle for Los Angeles last week, taking care of the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17. In their 31-10 win over the Rams, the Chargers defense held Baker Mayfield in check throughout. This week, they will look to do the same with Russell Wilson to move to 11-6 to close out the regular season.
The key for the Chargers going into this game will be their run defense. That run defense gave up over 100 yards on the ground to Cam Akers, despite the Rams struggling on the ground all season long. Here, the Chargers will need to be better to avoid a loss that could drop them from the fifth seed in the AFC to the sixth seed.
Denver Broncos
Last week, the Denver Broncos were beaten by a field goal in Week 17, falling just short against the Kansas City Chiefs. But there were some positives in that game, as Russell Wilson rushed for two touchdowns and resembled the quarterback the Broncos thought they were getting when they mortgaged their future to acquire him.
This week, the Broncos have nothing to play for but draft positioning, but they will look to build on what they did offensively in last week’s contest. If they can get a second straight strong performance from Wilson, the Broncos could do some harm to the Chargers’ playoff seeding, and send a statement that next season could be better than this one was.
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