NFL Thursday Night Football Special Preview with Hamish Girvan

How the West will be Won

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Friday 2.20pm NZ time

Thursday Night Football (albeit Friday afternoon in New Zealand) has certainly selected some crackers and this one is one the best AFC wise. The playoff bound Kansas City Chiefs host the 10-3 San Diego Los Angeles Chargers who have steadily crept into the playoffs via a pretty easy schedule – however momentum is everything in the NFL.

The Chargers were the pre season favourites to win the AFC West however the Chiefs led by first season starter Patrick Mahomes are an offensive juggernaut. The Baltimore Ravens were the latest team to succumb to the Chiefs, even though they had one of the NFL’s best defenses, they could still not stop the Chiefs scoring 27 points. The only two teams to beat the Chiefs this season have had to score 43 and 54 points respectively. The loss of one of the Chiefs offensive weapons, Kareem Hunt, who was cut from the team for a female assault incident, may have slowed them down – but only slightly

The Los Angeles Chargers are led by veteran quarterback Philip Rivers who is probably playing the best football in his career in between being a parent, now expecting his 9th child. This is potentially a win this and take the AFC West division, which gives home advantage to the champion. Lots on the line here however can the Chargers score enough points and keep the Chiefs offence off the field? They will have to be at their very best on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs are standard home team favourites by 3.5 points – that’s a field goal. The last time the Chargers beat the Chiefs home or away was 5 years ago in December 2013. The drought should continue. Pick Chiefs -3.5

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