The Kansas City Chiefs will visit the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in the NFL Week 15 edition of Thursday Night Football at 8:20 p.m ET on the NFL Network with first place in the AFC West on the line.
Both teams remain within a game of each other in the standings after enjoying blowout wins in Week 14. The 9-4 Chiefs will look to stay on top of the AFC West with a seventh straight victory, while the 8-4 Chargers will look to reclaim first place after allowing Kansas City to pass them.
Who will prevail in primetime between these two high-powered offenses? Let’s dig in with our NFL Week 15 TNF predictions and best bets.
Thursday Night Football Prediction Week 15
After facing off in Week 3, Kansas City and Los Angeles will meet again in Week 15 in a game with postseason vibes.
While the Chiefs lost their previous matchup in a 30-24 shootout at Arrowhead, their defense has improved dramatically since then. They’ve allowed just nine points in three consecutive games and an average of 10.8 points per game over their previous six.
Kansas City’s offense has cooled off from its strong start, however. While the Chiefs are coming off a 48-point explosion against the Last Vegas Raiders, they’ve struggled against other teams and have been held to 22 points or less in five of their last seven games.
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Patrick Mahomes and co. will need to step up if they want to keep pace with LA’s surging offense, however, which has scored at least 37 points in three of its last four games. The Chiefs must play a complete game in order to win, as they can’t expect their defense to contain Justin Herbert and the Chargers for a full 60 minutes.
Los Angeles has been up and down this year, so the key for them is playing consistent football. They’ve started to heat up again with three wins in their last four games, so it will be imperative to carry that momentum into Thursday night’s game.
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The Chargers have also struggled on defense for much of the season, surrendering an average of 29.1 points per game over their last nine games. While Kansas City’s offense hasn’t been as explosive this year, look for Mahomes to pick apart one of the worst units in the NFL.
When it’s all said and done, I’ll put my trust in the hands of Andy Reid and Mahomes. In close matchups like this, I’ll err on the side of experience.
TNF Week 15 Pick: Chiefs 27, Chargers 23
Can the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time this season in their NFL Week 15 TNF showdown? (Image: USA TODAY Sports)
Thursday NFL Betting Trends for 2021
- The Over is 5-11.
- The Underdog is 7-9 against the spread.
- The Favorite is 13-3 on the moneyline.
- The Home Team is 7-9.
*Anthony Cervino is 27-18 on his NFL Best Bets for 2021 for The Game Day.
Thursday Night Football Best Bets Week 15
*NFL gameday odds and lines are current as of 2 PM ET on Thursday, December 16.
TNF Best Bet: Chiefs -3 (-120) at Caesars
Wager: 4 Units
While this matchup is close on paper, the Chiefs are the superior team. They’re also the hottest team in the NFL right now with their six-game winning streak, whereas the Chargers have been frustratingly inconsistent on a week-to-week basis.
Although Kansas City’s offense has struggled with consistency as well, they should be able to turn it on against LA’s porous defense.
- Check out our NFL Week 15 TNF Prop Bets
Also consider:
- The Chiefs have covered the spread in four straight games
- The Chargers are 2-3 against the spread in their past five games
I like Kansas City -3, but would bet this up to -5.5. They should win by 6+.
Check out more of our NFL Week 15 betting tips:
TNF Best Bet: OVER 53.5 Total Points (-110) at Caesars
Wager: 2 Units
Both of these offenses are electric, even if they haven’t always shown it this year. The Chiefs should have little trouble scoring on one of the worst defenses in the NFL, while the Chargers are capable of cooling off Kansas City’s red-hot defense.
It will rain points on TNF if both offenses are clicking. In a must-win spot for both sides, expect both clubs to keep their foot on the gas in Week 15.
Take the Over for our NFL bet of the day.
TNF Best Bet: Chiefs Moneyline (-170) at Caesars
Wager: 2 Units
I’m all-in on Kansas City here. They have the superior head coach and quarterback, plus all the momentum on their side.
While they’re on the road, I don’t think it matters in this matchup. The Chiefs have won their past five road games at the Chargers and three of their past four road games overall, and there’s nothing scary about playing in SoFI Stadium, as Chargers fans are notoriously non-existent.
Thanks for reading our NFL Week 15 TNF Predictions! For more NFL betting tips, check out our NFL Week 15 Best Bets and NFL Week 15 Prop Bets.
