It's Week 14 in the NFL, which means that some teams are just playing for pride at this point in the season. Two squads who fit that bill face off on Sunday afternoon as the Atlanta Falcons head to the West Coast to play the Los Angeles Chargers.
NFL betting lines have the Falcons as short 2.5-point road favorites with the Over/Under installed at 49.5.
We break down the NFL odds with our best picks and predictions for the Falcons vs Chargers on Sunday, December 13, with kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Editor's Note: This preview was written prior to Friday's news that Falcons WR Julio Jones will be out for Sunday's game.
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers Betting Preview
Weather
This game will be played indoors at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions for other matchups with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Falcons: James Carpenter G (Out), Ricardo Allen S (Out), Damontae Kazee S (Out), Julio Jones WR (Out).
Chargers: Denzel Perryman LB (Out), Joshua Kelley RB (Out).
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Falcons are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against teams with a losing record. Find more NFL betting trends for Falcons vs. Chargers.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
The Falcons are once again Falconsing, and no, we don't mean squandering a 28-3 lead. For the third year in a row, Atlanta began the season with some brutal football then started playing competitively after hitting rock bottom.
After beginning the season going 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS, the Falcons are 4-3 SU in their last seven games with two of those losses coming against the NFC Championship favorite New Orleans Saints.
The Chargers began the season with hope, especially after rookie quarterback Justin Herbert pushed the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs to overtime in Week 2, but the wheels have fallen off and they've gone 0-6 ATS in their past six games.
The Bolts are just 2-10 SU since an opening week win against the Bengals, and those wins came against the two worst teams in the league in the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars. They're coming off an ugly 45-0 loss at home against the Patriots and head coach Anthony Lynn is giving Adam Gasse a run for worst coach in the league honors.
The Chargers are 27th in the league in scoring defense, surrendering 28.8 points per game, and will be facing a capable Atlanta offense that's averaging 27 ppg over its last seven games. Back the Falcons as short road faves.
PREDICTION: Atlanta -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
Herbert may have been shut down by Bill Belichick and the Pats last week but he has still impressed as a rookie, completing 64.8 percent of his passes with 23 touchdowns against nine interceptions. And with wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back Austin Ekeler he has some weapons around him. That should help the Chargers move the ball against a Falcons team that ranks 27th in the league in total defense surrendering 394.4 yards per game.
Unfortunately for L.A. fans, the Chargers defense is also suspect, ranking 26th in the league in defensive DVOA according to Football Outsiders.
While Matt Ryan isn't the elite QB he was a few years ago, he's still very good and is more than capable of ripping apart mediocre defenses,
The Over is 20-6 in the Falcons' last 26 games on fieldturf, and has also cashed in seven of the Chargers' previous nine games overall. Expect both teams to have success in the passing game this Sunday and bet the Over again.
PREDICTION: Over 49.5 (-110)
Player Prop
Herbert is currently averaging 293 passing yards per game and will be facing a Falcons pass defense that allows 285.2 yards per game through the air, third-worst in the league.
We're expecting a game-script with both teams airing the ball out, and that gives plenty of value in taking the Over on Herbert's passing yards total of 274.5 yards.
PREDICTION: Justin Herbert Passing Yards Over 274.5 (-118)
Falcons vs Chargers Betting Card
- Atlanta -2.5 (-110)
- Over 49.5 (-110)
- Justin Herbert Passing Yards Over 274.5 (-118)
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