Written by :
Published on :
It’s Christmas Eve Eve at the former Hollywood Park, featuring the surging 8-6 Buffalo Bills against the sinking 5-9 Los Angeles Chargers. It’s also a rematch of the 1964 and 1965 title games in the American Football League, but that’s not important.
Buffalo, inconsistent throughout the season, just downed the Chiefs in Kansas City and the Dallas Cowboys at home. In that 31-10 hammering of Dallas, running back James Cook (25 carries, 179 yards, one touchdown) was the star as Buffalo possessed the ball over 35 minutes.
Los Angeles has been a bust this season, having lost its last couple and five of its last six. It was a pathetic, mail-it-in 63-21 effort against the Raiders in Las Vegas which ended the tenure of coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.
Buffalo is a huge, 11-point choice, according to NFL odds.
Moneyline is Bills -750, Bolts at +520.
It’s the Charger franchise leading the all-time series (including postseason), 25-13-2.
Moneyline is Bills -750, Bolts at +520.
It’s the Charger franchise leading the all-time series (including postseason), 25-13-2.
Bills Flipped Script
The Buffalo Bills have turned mediocre into masterful in the what-have-you-done-lately? world of the NFL. Buffalo blew a 10-point lead (and missed an overtime touchdown) at Philadelphia, eventually losing, 37-34. Mired at 6-6, the team then went into Arrowhead and, with the help of questionable officiating, took down the Chiefs.
There weren’t any suspect zebras in Orchard Park last Sunday, Buffalo ending with a 21-point win over the Cowboys. As was mentioned, running back James Cook and the offensive line had their way, while quarterback Josh Allen finished with less than 100 yards through the air.
Allen (3,541 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 14 interceptions) had the first “pick-less” game in his last nine against Dallas, 7-of-15 (94 yards) season lows in those categories by far.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs (91 receptions, 1,041 yards, eight touchdowns) has just one touchdown in last five, while Cook is on the precipice (32 yards) of a 1,000-yard rushing season.
Buffalo is now sixth (27.1 points/game) in scoring offense to date, fourth (18.1 points.game) in surrendered points.
Bolting the Relevant
With injuries and some ugly play defining the season of the Los Angeles Chargers, time to play out the string.
Quarterback Justin Herbert was persevering through an injury to a finger on his left (non-throwing( hand, then injured a finger on his throwing which required surgery.
It’s now Easton Stick (436 yards, one touchdown) at the controls.
Defensively, the Chargers have surrendered 24.6 points/game (28th in NFL), 29th in yardage (375.3 yards/game). Interest of full disclosure, 63 Raider points including an interception and fumble return, but stench remained.
You’re not often left questioning a team’s effort, or lack thereof, but one has to wonder about the mindset of the Chargers.
LA is returning home and with some extra time to prepare (having last played a week ago Thursday), so there’s that.
Bills Blast Bolts
Buffalo is 12-1 (+1200) to win the title, LA at 1000-1 (+100000), as per Super Bowl LVIII odds.
LA was supposed to be a Super Bowl contender this season, but derailed in all sorts of ways. The injuries on offense, an abysmal defense are two of the leading culprits here.
Meanwhile, this Bills’ team comes in with a ton of confidence. It’s difficult to see them getting a challenge by the Chargers. So, not only is Josh Allen going to have a big game on offense, the defense is going to set the tone and dominate.
Bet the Buffalo Bills -11 on the road against languid LA.
- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com
