NFL lines, Week 1: 5 best bets

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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 30: Melvin Gordon No. 28 of the San Diego Chargers runs with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field At Mile High on October 30, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chargers 27-19. (Photo by Rob Leiter via Getty Images) /

4. Los Angeles Chargers (+3) at Denver Broncos

The last game of the week should be a fantastic one between AFC West division rivals in the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos. Denver is laying three points at home to the visiting Chargers. On a neutral site, this would be a push. However, take the Chargers getting three points in this one.

Since the Chargers did not have a home-field advantage in their last few years in San Diego, they are used to having to play better on the road. Mile High Stadium will be raucous on Monday Night Football, but Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers usually saves his best ball for when the Chargers play the Broncos.

Add in that the Chargers’ offense isn’t completely devastated by injuries yet and Los Angeles should be able to move the ball against an overrated Broncos defense. While Denver still has one of the better defenses in the NFL, it’s not as formidable as it was two years ago. A savvy veteran quarterback in Rivers should be able to make a few plays that a young signal caller could not on Denver.

The last points of emphasis are that this is a new regime in Denver and the quarterbacking situation is suspect at best. Sure, new Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy coached the Chargers last year, but this is Vance Joseph’s first rodeo running an NFL team. The Chargers are the more balanced team, so take them getting points in a tight one on Monday night.