Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

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The Kansas City Chiefs head to StubHub Center to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 3 point favorites. The total has been set at 47.5. The Chiefs were 10-7-0 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-9-0. The Chargers were 8-7-1 against the spread and their over/under mark was 4-12-0.

Valuable Kansas City Chiefs Betting Trends

The Kansas City Chiefs were 8-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Kansas City Chiefs were 10-7-0 against the spread last year

Important Los Angeles Chargers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Chargers were 4-12-0 against the over/under last season

The Los Angeles Chargers were 8-7-1 against the spread last year

Key Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

08/08/18 DB Daniel Sorensen Knee is out indefinitely
08/03/18 RB Charcandrick West Concussion is questionable Sunday vs LA Chargers
05/22/18 TE Demetrius Harris Suspension is OUT Sunday vs LA Chargers (1-game suspension)

Key Los Angeles Chargers Injuries

08/26/18 DE Joey Bosa Foot is probable Sunday vs Kansas City
08/19/18 S Jaylen Watkins ACL IR
08/03/18 DT Corey Liuget Foot is out indefinitely
08/03/18 G Forrest Lamp Knee is questionable Sunday vs Kansas City
08/03/18 TE Hunter Henry Knee IR
08/03/18 CB Trevor Williams Ankle is questionable Sunday vs Kansas City
07/27/18 CB Jason Verrett Achilles IR

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Kansas City Chiefs were 6th in the National Football League in points scored with 415 last year. They ran 985 plays for 6,007 yards, which ranked them 5th in the NFL in total offense. The Chiefs averaged 6.1 yards per play, which was 2nd in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 322 1st downs last season, ranking them 10th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Kansas City ran for 1,903 yards as a unit, which ranked 9th in the league. They ran 405 times, averaging 4.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Chiefs were penalized on offense 118 times for 1,044 yards last year, which had them 6th in the NFL in penalties. Patrick Mahomes passed for 284 yards last year. He completed 22 throws while attempting 35 passes for a completion percentage of 62.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 76.4. He averaged 12.9 yards per completion and 8.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Kansas City was 15th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 339. They gave up a total of 5,842 yards on D, which was 28th in the league. The Chiefs were 26th in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Their pass defense allowed 6.6 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 25th in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 325 throws on 570 attempts against the Kansas City Chiefs defense last season, ranking them 9th and 27th in the league. The Kansas City pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,952 yards in the air, which was 29th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 443 attempts for 1,890 yards last season, putting them in 25th place in the NFL against the run. The Chiefs had 107 penalties for 864 yards on defense last year. That placed them 8th in the league. They allowed a score on 33.5% of possessions on defense, which was 17th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Kansas City was 15th in the NFL in punt returns with 35 last year. They totaled 216 punt return yards and averaged 6.2 yards per return, which was 26th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 82 yards. They returned 47 kicks for 1,051 yards on special teams, placing them 1st in kick return yardage. The Chiefs averaged 22.4 yards per kick return and had a long of 42 yards last season. They were 1st in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 7,496. The Kansas City Chiefs tried 45 field goals last season and made 41, which was 1st in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 91.1%. Kansas City Chiefs kickers made 100% of their extra points, going 40 for 40 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,937 yards on 65 punts, averaging 45.2 yards per punt. That ranked them 14th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Los Angeles Chargers ran for 1,595 yards as a team last year, which ranked 24th in the NFL. They ran 419 times, averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Chargers were penalized on offense 108 times for 927 yards last season, which had them 15th in the league in penalties. They were 13th in the NFL in points scored with 355. They ran 1,020 plays last season for 6,026 yards, which ranked them 4th in the league in total offense. The Chargers averaged 5.9 yards per play, which was 4th in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 337 1st downs last year, placing them 5th overall as an offensive unit. Philip Rivers averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt and 12.5 yards per completion last season. He completed 360 passes on 575 attempts for a completion percentage of 62.6%. His quarterback rating last year was 96. He threw for 4,515 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Chargers rush defense allowed 430 attempts for 2,098 yards last year, putting them in 31st place in the league against the run. Los Angeles committed 109 penalties for 996 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 26th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 28.5% of possessions on defense, which was 4th in the league. They were 3rd in the league in points allowed on defense with 272. They surrendered a total of 5,254 yards on D, which was 15th in the NFL. The Chargers were ranked 16th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Their pass defense gave up 5.6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 5th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 329 passes on 524 attempts against the Los Angeles defense last season, placing them 12th and 7th in the National Football League. The Los Angeles Chargers pass defense also gave up a total of 3,156 yards through the air, which was 3rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Los Angeles Chargers attempted 30 field goals last season and made 20, which was 26th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 66.7%. Los Angeles kickers made 88% of their extra points, going 37 for 42 last year. Their punters totaled 3,560 yards on 74 punts, averaging 48.1 yards per punt. That placed them 3rd in the NFL in punting average. Los Angeles was ranked 25th in the league in punt returns last season with 28. They accumulated 259 punt return yards and averaged 9.3 yards per return, which was 9th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 65 yards. They returned 25 kicks for 474 yards on special teams, ranking 30th in kick return yardage. The Chargers averaged 19 yards per kick return and had a long of 44 yards last year. They were 7th in the league in all-purpose yards with 6,879.

Who will win tonight's Chiefs/Chargers NFL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Chargers -3

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