Sunday, December 13, 2020, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California, 4:25 p.m. ET
Falcons at Chargers Betting Preview: Falcons (-2.5/-115), Chargers (+2.5/-105)
Atlanta Falcons
After gaining 70 yards on the ground in Sunday’s defeat to the Saints, the Falcons (4-8) are looking for more from their running game. Todd Gurley was a solid red-zone runner earlier in the season, but chronic knee issues have slowed him of late and he had just 16 yards on eight carries Sunday.
Atlanta is 1-2 in its last three games, but the two defeats were to the NFC-best Saints and the victory was an impressive 43-6 showing against the Raiders. They fell 21-16 to New Orleans in their most recent game.
A Falcons’ loss would all but eliminate them from playoff contention, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions also playing a role in ending their hopes.
Los Angeles Chargers
If there was one thing that could be said about the hard-luck Chargers (3-9) is that at least they were competitive. That all changed Sunday when they were crushed 45-0 at home by the New England Patriots.
Issues on special teams for the Chargers are only getting worse after the Patriots returned a punt for a TD as well as a blocked kick. After rookie quarterback Justin Herbert threw for multiple touchdowns in seven consecutive games (and had at least three in five of those games), he has just one TD pass in his last two games combined.
Los Angeles was eliminated from playoff consideration last weekend. The Chargers are just 2-4 at home this season.
Falcons at Chargers Betting Pick for Week 14
While the Falcons did have 70 yards on the ground Sunday and just 59 in Week 10, those two games were against the Saints’ second-ranked rush defense. The Chargers are 23nd against the run (124.2 yards per game) and the Falcons’ signature balanced offense should be more evident in Los Angeles.
The Chargers expect to see Herbert return to his productive ways against a Falcons pass defense that is near the bottom of the NFL. But Los Angeles’ own struggles at keeping opponents off the scoreboard has led to 28.8 points per game (27th in the NFL) by their opponents.
Falcons at Chargers Betting Pick:
Falcons 30, Chargers 27
Falcons at Chargers Best Bet for Week 14
The Chargers have given up a combined 72 points in their last two games and are well aware they aren’t about to win a defensive tussle anytime soon. The pass is the best way to slice through the Falcons’ defense and the Chargers figure to lean into their rookie QB to open the final quarter of their schedule.
Falcons at Chargers Best Bet: Game OVER 48.5 total points (-110)
