Chargers Lions Spread


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The Detroit Lions will host the San Diego Chargers in a week 16 showdown that has playoff implications for both teams. The Lions rallied from 13 down in the 4th quarter to stun the Raiders 28-27. Detroit is now 9-5 and needs to win just one of their final two games to secure a spot in the playoffs. The Chargers need a little more help to make the postseason. San Diego crushed the Ravens 34-14 on Sunday Night Football to improve to 7-7, but are still a game back of the Broncos and tied with the Raiders in the AFC West.

Taking a look at the week 16 lines, oddsmakers currently have the Lions favored by 2.5-points over the Chargers with the total set at 52 points.

San Diego Charges:

Just a few weeks back the Chargers looked like they had little to no chance at making the playoffs. They were just 4-7  overall and three games back in the division. Three straight wins all the sudden have the Chargers looking like the best team in the AFC West. The way they just beat the Ravens, and you can bet teh rest of the AFC is hoping one of the other three teams end up winning the division.

Phillip  Rivers picked apart the Ravens defense for 270 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 23 passing. Rivers has now gone four straight games without an interception. His improvements are a result of the offense finally having all their pieces in place.

Not only is Rivers and the passing game clicking, second-year running back Ryan Mathews has been an absolute beast on the ground. Mathews rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns against a pretty good Ravens run defense.  Over the last four games Mathews is averaging an impressive 113 yards on the ground.

Both Rivers and Mathews figure to be in for a big game against the Lions this week. Detroit comes into this game allowing 135.8 ypg on the ground, and just allowed Oakland’s Carson Palmer to throw for 367 yards in their last game. San Diego has scored 34+ in each of their last three games, and I have a hard time seeing the Lions slowing them down.

Detroit Lions:

There is a lot working in the Lions favor heading into the final two weeks, but I think this team needs to address this game as if its their only chance of making the playoffs. The last thing the Lions want to do is have to go into week 17 needing to beat the Packers on the road to make the playoffs.  While the Lions come into this game off back-to-back wins, they are just 4-5 since opening the season 5-0.

They were very fortunate to come away with a win against the Raiders. Detroit trailed Oakland 14-27 with just 7:47 left to play in the fourth quarter. Thanks to Mathew Stafford and the passing attack, the Lions were able to score twice in the final five minutes to pull out the win.

Stafford finished the game with 391 yards and four touchdowns on 29 of 52 passing. Calvin Johnson hauled in nine passes for 214 yards and two scores, Nate Burelson added seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Brandon Pettigrew and Titus Young each chipped in with five catches.

Detroit managed just 47 yards on the ground, which is a big reason why they had to pull off a dramatic comeback late. The Lions haven’t rushed for more than 90 yards in each of their last three games.

The Chargers come in allowing 126.1 ypg on the ground, but have held their opponents to just 105 ypg average over their last three. Where San Diego has been at its best is against the pass. They are 6th in the league, allowing just 201.5 ypg through the air.  This a very difficult matchup for the Lions offense, but that’s not to say they can’t find a way to win this game.

Betting Trends:

San Diego is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in December.

Detroit is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.

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