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Chargers vs. Broncos Prediction and Odds for NFL Week 18 (Chargers of Old are Dead and Gone)

By Josh Yourish

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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The Los Angeles Chargers have clinched a playoff spot and won't have to worry about a tie-and-get-in scenario in Week 18, like last season.

Instead, they just need to worry about holding onto the fifth seed in the AFC. A win guarantees the fifth spot and a matchup with the AFC South champ, either the Jacksonville Jaguars or Tennessee. A loss doesn’t hurt them unless Baltimore beats Cincinnati, then either the Bengals or Ravens take the fifth spot and forces L.A. to travel to the AFC North champion. 

Even with the postseason locked up, this is an important one for the Chargers against a Denver team that looked frisky under interim head coach, Jerry Rosburg.

Let’s get into the odds out in the AFC West. 

Chargers vs. Broncos Odds, Spread and Total

Chargers vs. Broncos Betting Trends

  • Denver is 7-9 ATS
  • LA is 10-5-1 ATS
  • The under is 11-5 in Denver games
  • The under is 10-6 in LA games
  • The Under is 5-0 in LA’s last five
  • Home team is 5-1 ATS in last six meetings

Chargers vs. Broncos Prediction and Pick

The Chargers haven’t Charger’d this season up yet, so maybe the curse has been lifted and this franchise is free to compete for titles with Justin Herbert. Or, maybe they’ll find a way to slip into the sixth seed with a loss to the 4-12 Broncos and get bounced from the playoffs by Kansas City or Buffalo or Cincinnati.

It’s very difficult to fully trust L.A, but they really took care of business against an inferior opponent in Week 17. Justin Herbert was nearly perfect, 21/28 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, just a surgical performance and the defense with Joey Bosa back on the field only allowed Baker Mayfield to complete 11 of 19 passes for 132 yards. 

The Broncos actually hung around with the Chiefs and got a good performance from Russell Wilson, passing for 222 yards and a touchdown, plus two TDs on the ground. L.A. has an excellent pass defense, ranked best in the league over the last four weeks, so they’ll make things difficult for Wilson. Plus, the Broncos can’t run the ball well enough to beat anyone.

Denver has nothing to play for but pride and at 4-12 I think that ship has sailed already. Teams always get a one week bump from an interim head coach, but that fades and L.A. will cruise into the all important fifth seed in the AFC. 

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

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