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AFC Playoff Preview: Bet on Wild Card Chargers to Make Run, January 07

  • Find the best NFL Wild Card odds at BetUS.
  • The Chargers make their first playoff appearance since 2022.
  • Fifth-seeded Los Angeles faces fourth-seeded Houston on Saturday.
  • The Chargers finished with the top-scoring defense in the NFL.

 

The 2024 regular season is over, and now it’s time for the fun of the NFL playoffs starting this weekend. The AFC is full of teams that aren’t playing their best football, leaving some upset possibilities for you to make NFL betting picks on.

AFC Playoff Preview: Bet on Wild Card Chargers to Make Run, January 07
Derwin James Jr. #3 Of The Los Angeles Chargers | Harry How/getty Images/afp

While the seventh-seeded Denver Broncos and sixth-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers are possible upset candidates for their Wild Card round matchups with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, our team to watch is the Los Angeles Chargers. The fifth seed in the AFC finished 11-6 and in second place in the AFC West and will be taking on the fourth-seeded Houston Texans on Saturday.

Los Angeles has a chance to pick up a couple of wins and get on a roll in the postseason, and our NFL expert predictions today are that they will. Keep reading and find out why you should be getting some action in on the Chargers making a run.

 

3 Reasons to Bet on the Chargers in AFC Playoffs

1. Defense Wins Championships

While we all love the high-scoring contests of the regular season, the playoffs become a little less explosive on the scoreboard, which will play into the hands of the Chargers. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s squad likes to run the ball and keep the opponent in check, which can be a championship formula if things roll right.

Los Angeles led the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 17.7 points per game in the regular season. Despite ranking 11th in the league in yardage allowed, the Chargers stiffened at the right time, keeping opponents out of the end zone.

Turnovers were a big part of that winning formula, with Los Angeles tying with Green Bay and Minnesota for third in the league with a +12 turnover differential.

The secondary has Derwin James Jr. and Kristian Fulton roaming the defensive backfield, giving players like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu to get to the quarterback.

If the Chargers can get on a roll on the defensive side of the ball, they could be a good bet online in the postseason.

 

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2. Offensive Potential

One of the biggest problems for Los Angeles this season was its inconsistency on offense, but part of that had to do with nagging injuries that kept key players out. Health is starting to be less of a problem for the Chargers, which means trouble for the team’s opponents.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has been dealing with an ankle injury but has been playing well of late, throwing multiple touchdown passes in each of the last four games. Herbert finished with 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns in the regular season, and he showed off his health with a 41-yard run in Sunday’s victory over the Raiders.

Los Angeles also has running back J.K. Dobbins back in the lineup after he missed a month of action with a sprained MCL. Dobbins played in the final two regular-season contests, giving the Chargers’ run game a much-needed boost.

And the passing game has been boosted with rookie Ladd McConkey and tight end Will Dissly getting back on the field as well. It all seems to be coming together for the Chargers offensively, as they racked up 473 yards of offense and 34 points against Las Vegas in the regular-season finale.

The team has much more confidence heading into the postseason, making them a good bet to beat the NFL odds and pick up a win or two.

 

3. Playoff Road Suits Chargers

The final weekend of the regular season was a good one for the Chargers, as Pittsburgh lost on Saturday, followed by a Los Angeles win on Sunday. That pushed the Chargers into the fifth seed and a date with the fourth-seeded Texans, the worst of the four division winners.

In fact, Los Angeles finished with a better record than Houston, with the Texans only getting a home game because they won the AFC South. The Chargers were 6-3 on the road this season, so they won’t have a problem being the visitor on Saturday.

A win over Houston would give the Chargers a potential date with their division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. Los Angeles lost both of its contests against Kansas City this season, but both were one-score games that could have gone either way.

Herbert and Los Angeles are also looking to make up for their last playoff contest, back in January 2023. The Chargers took a 27-0 lead against the host Jacksonville Jaguars late in the second quarter, only to see the Jags rally for a 31-30 victory. Though Harbaugh wasn’t the coach at the time, he’ll certainly invoke those memories to keep his team focused.

For the Wild Card round, the Chargers are actually favored by three points against the Texans. Los Angeles is fourth among the betting odds to win the AFC, though its +1400 odds are well behind Kansas City (+140), Buffalo (+275) and Baltimore (+275).

Still, as a team that will likely not have another home game this season, we like the Chargers among the NFL best bets to exceed their expectations and possibly advance to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2007.

 

Bet on Chargers to Win the AFC Conference!

 

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.

 

Question of the Day

When was the last time the Chargers won a playoff game?


Los Angeles’ last playoff win came in January 2019, when they upset the Baltimore Ravens on the road in the Wild Card round.

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