Los Angeles Chargers VS Detroit Lions Match Prediction

In 11 games between them, the L.A. Chargers have seven wins and four losses against the Detroit Lions.

Here's a look at the last five results:

9/13/15: Lions 28-33 Chargers
12/14/11: Chargers 10-38 Lions
12/17/07: Lions 14-51 Chargers
12/07/03: Chargers 14-7 Lions
10/10/99: Chargers 20-10 Lions

Chargers vs Lions Betting Tips and Odds

Bet365 have the following odds available for this match:

The Chargers are at -2.5 despite being on the road here.

The over/under is set at 47.5 total points.

The Chargers are at 5/7 and the Lions are at 6/5 on the money line

Los Angeles Chargers vs Detroit Lions Prediction

These players are professionals and no game is as easy as it may seem on paper, but the Chargers look like good value for the money here, both heads up and via the spread.  They are just so much more solid, and they’ll show in in Detroit.  

Correct Score Prediction: Chargers 31-21 Lions

Progress Report

The LA Chargers were made to fight for a win at home by the new era of the Colts, but they eventually were able to get the win in overtime.  It doesn’t matter how you do it as long as you do, and the Chargers got it done last weekend.  They will be a little concerned by letting the Colts back in the game as they did, but overall they will not be too displeased as they came away with victory, which is what matters in the end.  

Last Five Games

9/8/19: 24-30 OT W vs Colts
1/13/19: 28-41 L @ Patriots (NFC Divisional Round)
1/6/19: 23-17 W @ Ravens (NFC Wild Card)
12/30/19: 23-9 W @ Broncos
12/23/19: 22-10 L vs Ravens 

Key Offensive Players

Philip Rivers did throw for an interception in the win last weekend, but other than that he looked very good under center.  He went 25-34 for 333 yards through the air and three TD’s.  He was dropped four times, though, which is going to be a bit of a worry for them ahead of this game and the rest of the season.  Running back Austin Ekeler really took his opportunity to shine with Melvin Gordon still sitting out.  He ran for 58 yards on 12 carries, but he really got it done receiving-wise with 123 yards on eight receptions.  

Expected Offensive Starting Line up

QB    Rivers
RB    Ekeler
WR    Allen
WR    Inman
WR    Benjamin
TE    Henry
LT    Scott
LG    Feeney
C    Pouncey
RG    Schofield III
RT    Tevi

Key Defensive Player

Thomas Davis wasted absolutely no time in showing how big of a signing he was for the Chargers last weekend as he racked up 14 tackles in his debut with the team from his linebacker position.  Cornerback Brandon Facyson also had a great game, recording nine total tackles and offering plenty of good coverage to stop the Colts.  

Expected Defensive Starting Line up

LDE    Bosa
LDT    Jones
RDT    Mebane
RDE    Ingram
WLB    Nwosu
MLB    Perryman
SLB    Thomas Davis
LCB    Facyson
SS    Phillips
FS    Jenkins
RCB    Hayward

Progress Report

The Lions did not lose their first game of the season, but the fact they ultimately tied will sting and make it feel like they did.  They’ve even said as much, such was the way it turned out.  They had a big lead over the Cardinals, with a rookie quarterback under center, and they let it get away from them in the blink of an eye.  For a team that have so rarely made the playoffs, that will really sting and it might just show they don’t have what it takes to challenge at all in the NFC North yet again.  

Last Five Games

9/8/19: 27-27 T @ Cardinals
12/30/19: 31-0 W @ Packers
12/23/19: 27-9 L vs Vikings
12/16/19: 13-14 L @ Bills
12/9/19: 17-3 W @ Cardinals

Key Offensive Players

As always, the Lions had quarterback Matthew Stafford more than ready to sling the ball all over the yard against the Cardinals, with the former Georgia QB unleashing for 385 yards on 27-45.  That’s a ton of passing, and it shows they will certainly look to air the ball down the field at every opportunity.  His chief receiver in week one ended up being tight end TJ Hockenson.  He made six grabs for a total of 131 yards and a touchdown, trailing only Danny Amendola for the number of receptions in the tie.    

Expected Offensive Starting Line up

QB    Stafford
RB    Johnson
WR    Golladay
WR    Marvin Jones, Jr.
WR    Amendola
TE    Hockenson
LT    Decker
LG    Wiggins
C    Ragnow
RG    Glasgow
RT    Wagner

Key Defensive Player

There is little doubting how big of an impact linebacker Devon Kennard had in the tie with the Cardinals.  Though he had four tackles, which may not seem like much at first, three of them were sacks.  Strong safety Quandre Diggs also had a nice outing by recording five tackles and helping in coverage, two responsibilities he’ll also have here as they host the Chargers.  

Expected Defensive Starting Line up

LDE    Okwara
LDT    Harrison
RDT    Robinson
RDE    Flowers
WLB    Kennard
MLB    Tavai
SLB    Christian Jones
LCB    Slay
SS    Diggs
FS    Walker
RCB    Coleman

The NFL is already a taxing enough league, and both teams took that to the extreme last weekend when they went into overtime. With that said, there was a pretty big gap in the quality of teams they faced. The Chargers were at least playing a team that had also made the playoffs last season, while the Lions had to settle for a tie with the Cardinals, the worst team of last year. That speaks volumes and shows how big a favorite the Chargers are.

Both teams played up to ten extra period last week, with the Chargers having blown a lead just as the Colts did.