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Los Angeles Chargers (5-5) and Arizona Cardinals (4-7) will clash in an AFC-NFC matchup in Glendale, Arizona. Los Angeles lost a heartbreaker to their interdivisional rival, Kansas City Chiefs, last week 30-27. The Chargers pulled ahead 27-23 on a Justin Herbert six-yard TD pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:46 left in regulation, but the ever-impressive Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive. Herbert and the Chargers' offense got the ball back with 31 seconds remaining, but the budding star threw a pick, sealing the Chargers' fate. Herbert finished 23-of-30 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, both to Palmer. Mike Williams, the Chargers' wide receiver alongside Keenan Allen, had returned to the gridiron after missing multiple weeks with an ankle injury but reaggravated it in the loss.
Chargers vs. Cardinals Betting Odds
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Arizona got its doors blown off 38-10 in the MNF game in Mexico City. Quarterback Colt McCoy, who played as Kyler Murray's replacement the previous week, was sacked three times and threw a pick before leaving the contest with an elbow injury. The Cardinals allowed 387 yards from scrimmage and were held scoreless in the second half. James Conner was stymied, rushing for 42 yards on 14 carries.
Tale of the Tape
Despite being 5-5 and never truly at full strength, Brandon Staley's Los Angeles Chargers still have a chance at a postseason berth. They sit one game behind the New York Jets for the final playoff spot in the AFC. The Cardinals are the first of two straight opponents with seven or more losses this season. The Chargers are sixth in the NFL with 16 passing touchdowns, led by QB Justin Herbert. He has thrown for 2,730 yards. However, they are at the bottom of the barrel in rushing yards per game and yards per attempt. The lack of running lanes has yet to stop RB Austin Ekeler. The Northern Colorado product averages 43.7 receiving yards per game. Herbert will again be without star WR Mike Williams, but TE Gerald Everett and WR Keenan Allen have been seen in practice all week.
Even after adding a bevy of veterans this offseason, the defense continues to be sore. The Chargers are dead last in the NFL in yards per carry allowed at 5.5. They have also surrendered 16 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. LA have struggled to field a healthy lineup, with stars JC Jackson, Joey Bosa, and Austin Johnson all missing for the time being. Many banged-up defensive starters like Bryce Callahan and Khalil Mack have logged full practices this week.
Arizona's season has been nothing short of dysfunctional and disappointing. After an 11-6 start, the Cardinals locked up QB Kyler Murray, HC Kliff Kingsbury, and GM Steve Keim. They have since responded with a 4-7 record that has them sitting in the basement of the NFC West. They are sixth in the NFL in passing attempts, yet in the bottom half of the league in passing yards and touchdowns. The run game isn't that inspiring either, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins has averaged 97 receiving yards per game since returning from a six-game suspension. Fellow wide receiver Marquise Brown averages 80 yards receiving per game but was injured the week before Hopkin's return. Brown has been activated off the IR this week and should line up alongside Hopkins.
The Cardinals have surrendered 296 points this season, the second most in the NFL. They have already allowed opposing passers to toss 21 touchdowns thus far. The rushing defense is slightly better but is still in the bottom half of the NFL in most key categories.
Chargers vs. Cardinals Betting Prediction
The Chargers need this game. They are always in the contest at the fag end of games but haven't been able to string together enough wins to climb up the ladder in the NFC West. This is a perfect chance for them to get a tick in the win column on Sunday.
Prediction: Chargers -2.5 (-118)
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