San Diego Chargers End Division Slate As 2 TD Favorites Over Chiefs

NFL News - November 24th, 2009 - Written by John

The Kansas City Chiefs were able to celebrate their biggest win of the year last week, holding the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime, then marching 71 yards down field for a game-winning field goal. But the jubilee won't last long. Not with the streaking San Diego Chargers waiting in the wings. Winners of five-straight, and firmly holding sole-possession of the division lead for the first time this year, the Chargers are back home to host the Chiefs on Sunday.

Per the NFL Betting Lines, the Chargers are near two-touchdown favorites with a 13 1/2-point spread, according to BetUS Sportsbook, after winning five of it's last six games against Kansas City. They've been pretty good against the spread, too, covering in four of those games. The over/under is 44 1/2.

But quietly, the Kansas City Chiefs have really started to come on recently, and will likely improve from their 37-7 loss to San Diego earlier in the year. Despite a meager record,the Chiefs are 5-1 ATS in the last six games, as Matt Cassel has commanded the offense with few errors that would have otherwise crippled his team in previous years. The numbers won't wow anyone, but he is slowly earning his big contract by accumulating a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and creating a chemistry with Chris Chambers in only the wideout's third game with the team.

Chambers has 249 yards and two touchdowns, including 116 yards against Pittsburgh, becoming the poster child of Kansas City's ability to progress despite losing starters. Dwayne Bowe was suspended for four games for failing a drug test, and the team shipped out starting running back Larry Johnson for detrimental conduct. In his wake, Jamaal Charles has become a viable replacement, gaining 161 yards in two games. He also had a 97-yard kick return to start the game.

But it would be remiss to assert that the San Diego Chargers aren't the clear favorites in this game. They took the AFC West by storm by pounding the Denver Broncos 34-3 last week with a revitalized LaDainian Tomlinson running the ball and Pro Bowler Philip Rivers throwing it.

Rivers has 2,621 yards on the year with 17 scores and just six picks, while Tomlinson has scored in three of his last four games. In the three biggest games against the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Broncos, Rivers has been at his best, throwing for six touchdowns with a completion percentage well over 70 to recover from a 2-2 start to the season.

This is San Diego's final division game, and can close out it's AFC West Schedule with a 5-1 record.