Chargers vs Broncos Odds and Predictions - NFL Week 6 MNF

Chargers vs Broncos Picks – Recommended Bets

• Los Angeles Chargers -5.0, -110 at Caesars
• Over 46, -107 at PointsBet
• Total first-half Over 22.5, -125 at PointsBet

Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers

Monday, October 17, 8:15 pm ET on ABC / ESPN

Diverging Fortunes in the AFC West 

The Los Angeles Chargers (3-2-0 SU, 4-1-0 ATS) look for a third straight win as they play host to the faltering Denver Broncos (2-3-0, 1-4-0) on Monday Night Football in NFL Week 6 action. Los Angeles has emerged as a 5.5-point favorite in the Chargers vs Broncos odds at most sportsbooks after earning back-to-back road wins over Houston and Cleveland. After opening as high as 47.5, the points total has faded to just 46.

Chargers vs Broncos Odds Betting Preview

Monday night’s matchup at SoFi Stadium marks the season’s first meeting between these AFC West rivals. The teams split their season series in 2021, each tallying a victory on home turf. Broncos bettors have recently enjoyed a slight edge in contests against the Chargers, as Denver has covered the spread in five of the past eight meetings. The Broncos’ success against the Chargers extends to outright results, especially on the road, where they’ve won seven of the last 11. 

However, the tide has turned in favor of the Chargers in their recent home dates in this matchup. L.A. has held the Broncos to just 14.5 points per game in their two most recent clashes in Southern California, both of which have ended in victory for the Chargers. For good measure, while the Broncos hold an overall historical edge in this fixture (including wins in 16 of the last 22 meetings), the Chargers have the edge in primetime, with wins in six of 10 such meetings.

Low-scoring contests have become increasingly commonplace between these teams, which heavily influences our Chargers vs Broncos predictions. The Under has undoubtedly been the way to go on the Chargers vs Broncos odds, as the total has reached 43 just three times in the past nine meetings.

Wilson’s Injury Further Complicates Broncos Slow Start

This Monday Night Football matchup with the Chargers is the Broncos’ third primetime appearance of the young season. The Broncos have done little to win over fans in their first two appearances, with a sloppy 17-16 season-opening loss under the lights in Seattle, and a positively hideous 12-9 overtime loss at home to the similarly embattled Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night in Week 5, in which Broncos fans made for the exits with the game still very much up for grabs.

To say this season has been a massive disappointment is an understatement. With the arrival of Russell Wilson over the offseason, this team was expected not just to end a six-year playoff drought but compete for the top spot in the AFC West. Instead, a barrage of mistakes by rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett and a porous offensive line that has allowed Wilson to be sacked 16 times in five games have the Broncos sitting 31st in team scoring, with an average of just 15.0 points per game.

Data taken from: pro-football-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/12/22)

The Broncos were never a serious threat to score a TD in last week’s loss to Indianapolis, and Wilson has now failed to toss a scoring pass in six straight quarters. That Wilson is playing through a shoulder injury that reportedly will take weeks to heal is undoubtedly not going to help matters.

Healthy Herbert, Ekeler Powering Resurgent LA Attack

The Chargers, meanwhile, have impressed while overcoming a slow start to the season (and plenty of major injuries of their own) with back-to-back wins and have established themselves as a solid choice in any Chargers vs Broncos predictions. Quarterback Justin Herbert has shown no lingering effects from a rib injury that hampered him last month, racking up a season-high 340 passing yards in a 34-24 win in Houston two weeks ago and orchestrating an impressive performance by L.A.’s rushers in a 30-28 Week 5 win in Cleveland. 

Data taken from: pro-football-reference.com (Accurate as of 10/12/22)

Herbert has connected on 10 scoring passes this season and has pushed his streak of games with at least one TD pass to 27 straight games. The uber-talented 24-year-old has had plenty of help from the backfield, most notably from star running back Austin Ekeler, who has shaken off a slow start to the season with three scoring runs over the past two weeks and a career-high 173 rushing yards in last week’s win over the Browns.

However, shutting down opposing rushers remains a challenge for Los Angeles, which has allowed at least one opposing rusher to top 100 rushing yards and tally at least one score in each of their past three contests. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who will win in the Chargers vs Broncos game?

Our Chargers vs Broncos predictions have the Chargers as the victor. Given Denver’s offensive struggles this season, the Broncos will have an uphill battle to defeat the Chargers. Even with the Broncos being strong defensively, they won’t be able to stop the Chargers for 60 minutes or keep up when the Los Angeles offense puts points on the board.

How many times have the Chargers beat the Broncos?

Heading into their Week 6 game, the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos have met 125 times. The Chargers have 54 wins against the Broncos, while Denver has the upper hand with 70 victories. There has also been one tie between these longtime AFC Rivals. However, the Chargers vs Broncos odds indicate that the Chargers will close the gap by coming out winners on Monday.

What team is the Chargers’ rival?

The Los Angeles Chargers have longstanding rivalries with all of the other teams in the AFC West. There is also a budding Los Angeles rivalry with the Rams. However, the rivalry between the Chargers and the Raiders has created the most memorable and controversial moments, including the 1980 AFC Championship Game and their Week 18 game in 2021 to decide the final playoff spot.

Chargers vs Broncos Predictions and Conclusion

The Broncos face a massive challenge to keep pace with a potent Chargers offense finally getting healthy and finding its groove. We can’t see past the Chargers covering the spread and taking the win.  

Considering the uncertain health of Russell Wilson and the Chargers’ struggles against the ground game, it could be a busy night for running back Melvin Gordon III. However, impatient Broncos fans will have to wait at least one more week for their team to make an offensive breakthrough. Therefore whilst we don’t doubt the Chargers will keep the scoreboard moving, a small Broncos contribution to the points tally has us favoring the Under 46 points.

Indeed, considering Denver’s struggles and the Chargers’ impressive average of 15.6 first-half points to date, look for LA to score early and often in front of hometown fans. Over 22.5 first-half points offers good value at -125 at PointsBet.

Interested in more football content? Be sure to read our guide: How To Bet on American Football or our take a look at some of the best Football betting promos available. Visit our odds comparison tool to compare the latest odds. 

Written by Daniel Coyle.  

Daniel has written professionally about sports for two decades and covered the sports betting beat for the past nine years. He is an expert EPL, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and UFC writer.    

His work has been featured in various newspapers, magazines, and online media, including the Montreal Gazette, Globe & Mail, Faceoff.com, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, NESN, Sportsnet, Featurd, SB Nation, Oilers Nation, and The Nation.