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NFL Week 18 2021: 3 teams on upset alert this Sunday

By Mike Phillips

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 02: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 02: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball against Jonas Griffith #50 of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium on January 02, 2022, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball against Jonas Griffith #50 of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium on January 02, 2022, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

1. NFL teams on upset alert in Week 18 – Los Angeles Chargers

The final game of the regular season should be a doozy as the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders meet in what should be a win-or-go-home game that will determine the final postseason spot in the AFC. Barring a stunning upset win from the Jaguars against the Colts, the only way for either team to reach the postseason will be to win this game.

The Chargers are the road team here and are actually favored by 2.5 points over the Raiders, likely due in part to Los Angeles’ dominant win against Denver in Week 17. The fact that the Chargers also beat the Raiders head-to-head earlier this season likely weighs in the mind of gamblers but this game figures to be extremely close.

The fact that the Chargers are a road favorite is terrifying for a team that has been as inconsistent as Los Angeles has this season. Visiting teams typically get a boost in Las Vegas from plenty of their own fans crashing Allegiant Stadium but Chargers’ fans historically don’t travel well, making this a true road game in a big spot.

The up-and-down Raiders are also trending in the right direction after picking up three straight wins to put themselves in control of their playoff destiny. Road divisional games are never easy and there is an excellent chance that the Chargers find themselves planning tee times if they don’t bring their best effort in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

Next. The Pete Carroll-Russell Wilson era could end in Seattle. dark

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