The Denver Broncos play the Los Angeles Chargers on the road to close out Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season.
As of noon on Monday, the Chargers are listed as 4- to 4.5-point favorites on oddsboards for this MNF divisional clash. That’s down from the opening line posted last Sunday night that ranged between -6 and -6.5. This marks the fifth time this season that LA has been a favorite.
Let’s take a look at our Broncos vs. Chargers odds on Monday Night Football, as well as a prediction.
MNF Odds: Point Spread, Moneyline, Total
Here are Monday Night Football odds from around the sports betting marketplace.
NFL · Mon (10/17) @ 8:15pm ET
| DEN Broncos | at | LA Chargers |
| SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California | ||
Broncos-Chargers AFC West Battle on MNF
For a league-high fourth time this season, the Broncos (2-3 Straight Up/1-4 Against The Spread) will be playing in prime time (with one more to come), but surely the TV networks were expecting a lot more from QB Russell Wilson and Co. after the blockbuster offseason trade that brought him in from Seattle.
Denver has scored only six offensive TDs this season, which ties for the fewest in the NFL. And making matters worse, Wilson has been playing with a partially torn lat near his throwing shoulder.
But that’s probably not an excuse for him throwing fourth-quarter INTs from the Colts’ 35 and 13 in last Thursday’s 12-9 home loss to Indianapolis. Not to mention the awkward game-ending incompletion into a crowd in the end zone on fourth-and-1 in OT. It was a curious throw and a more curious play call from rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
The Chargers (3-2 SU/4-1 ATS), meanwhile, also have a QB that has fought through an injury in Justin Herbert, who fractured his rib cartilage in a Week 2 game against Kansas City.
He is the league’s fifth-rated passer with 10 TD throws and only two interceptions. But he’s still going without veteran standout WR Keenan Allen (questionable, hamstring), who has missed the past four games.
A big difference between the teams’ offenses is the running game.
Last week, LA’s Austin Ekeler broke through for 173 ground yards in a 30-28 victory in Cleveland as the Chargers overcame an early 14-0 deficit to win their second game in a row. Entering Week 6, that’s the most yards for anyone in a game this season.
Denver, meanwhile, lost tackle-busting RB Javonte Williams in Week 4 (IR, knee) for an offense that has scored only three TDs on nine first-and-goal possessions. The Broncos still have speedy ex-Charger Melvin Gordon but are wary about his fumble issues (three total, two lost).
Defensively, the Broncos’ third-ranked unit is tied with division leaders San Francisco and Dallas for the fewest touchdowns allowed with five. Last week, Denver didn’t allow any to Indy and still lost.
By contrast, the Chargers have allowed 15 offensive TDs, including four by Cleveland and backup QB Jacoby Brissett last week. Two games earlier, Jacksonville also scored four against them. In the Jags’ other four games, they scored seven.
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Broncos vs. Chargers MNF Prediction
In their previous eight meetings with the Chargers dating to 2018, the Broncos have been an underdog each time, but have won five of them.
Could they pull another upset? Or at least make it close? Sure.
Two reasons are that the Chargers have been playing without star pass rusher Joey Bosa (IR, groin). And on offense, LA is going with a backup at left tackle against a team that had six sacks last week against a Colts squad that also was playing with a second-teamer in that spot.
And although the Chargers were certainly proud of their rushing performance in Cleveland, that was against a unit that’s allowed 5.3 yards a carry.
And speaking of crummy run defense, LA is atop the chart at 5.8 a rush.
So, if Gordon can emphasize smothering the ball on carries and if maybe Wilson and WRs Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy can get on the same page a little better than last week, Denver could pull a surprise.
Wilson also should benefit from the extended break after the team’s Thursday night outing.
Prediction: Broncos 20, Chargers 16
Also read: NFL Week 6 betting picks and predictions | NFL Week 6 player props and anytime TD scorer bets
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