Chargers visit Broncos on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football will conclude Week 1 of the 2017 NFL regular season when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Denver Broncos in an AFC West showdown. The current line has Denver favored by 3 points with the over/under point total on 43.
Denver looks to rebound from an average season last year while Los Angeles starts a new era in a different city, playing their first regular season game as Los Angeles after spending 56 years in San Diego. Both teams have new coaches as well with Anthony Lynn coaching the Chargers and Vance Joseph the Broncos.
Denver did not make the playoffs last season after winning the Super Bowl the previous season. This season, the defense will be the strength of the team behind linebacker Von Miller. Aqib Talib will shadow Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Talib said Allen has recovered from his torn ACL of last season and warned that the Chargers would be a tough opponent as they are healthy with their stars at skill positions healthy and ready and with Philip Rivers at quarterback any offense is going to be dangerous.
Rivers has passed for more than 4,000 yards in a season eight times as well as five seasons with 30 touchdown passes or more. Melvin Gordon missed rushing for 1,000 yards last season by 3 yards after missing the final three games of the regular season due to knee and hip injuries.
On defense, the Chargers are led by Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram two pass rushers who sacked opposing quarterbacks 10.5 and 8 times respectively. Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward led the NFL in interceptions last season with seven.
Denver will start Trevor Siemian under center. This is his second season as the Broncos starting quarterback after last season passing for 3,400 yards. He will have two strong receivers in Demaryirus Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders both of whom had over 1,000 yards receiving last season.
C.J. Anderson is once again healthy and will lead the running game for Denver, while Jamaal Charles the former star running back with the Kansas City Chiefs looks to revive his career with the Broncos.
Miller is second in quarterback sacks with 73.5 and forced fumbles with 19 since entering the NFL in 2011. Talib in No. 4 in NFL history with 9 interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Los Angeles is 5-0 against the spread in its last 5 Week 1 games.
Denver is 5-1 straight up in its last 6 games head to head with Los Angeles.
Prediction: The Chargers will be a better team than most think. Look for Los Angles to cover and possibly win outright.
