BRONCOS at CHARGERS
8:15 p.m., Chargers by 3, 42
HANK’S HONEYS: The AFC West rivals have been heading in opposite directions with Denver, on a four-game winning streak, having taken over second place from the Chargers, who have dropped three out of four. The onus is on Jim Harbaugh to turn his team around. The problem is that since J.K. Dobbins went down with a knee injury, he hasn’t had a chance to get back to his winning formula from early this season, as they did in the first meeting by controlling the football for over 36 minutes in their seven-point victory. Justin Herbert, you would think, is capable of shouldering the load but he’s obviously been hobbled by lower body injuries and can’t avoid the blitz.
The Chargers are going to need to turn the ball over. Sean Payton’s rising confidence in rookie Bo Nix has come at a cost. He’s thrown five INTs in his last two games and will be facing an opportunistic L.A. defense, led by rookie CB Tarheeb Still, that has forced six turnovers in its last four games. That said, we don’t see the need for Nix to fill the L.A. smog with footballs. This shapes up as a low-event game, a good time to bet the under.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the under.