TNF: Worth Watching or Betting On?
Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Thursday Night Football this week is a clash of under-performers in the AFC-West that is sure to disappoint. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers are in the doldrums of the NFL and don’t seem to have any plans to rectify their many shortcomings. I‘d say you’d have more fun watching your local news than this mid-week matchup.
The Kansas City Chiefs have quickly become the laughing stock of the NFL with a measly 1-6 record. They are in no position to go into San Diego and win a game on the road, nor string together a few consecutive road wins and climb up their division standings. In fact, their offense is so inept that they haven’t led a game in regulation all season, with their only win coming in overtime over the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
To put their ineptitude in perspective, the Chiefs have only scored 10 touchdowns to their 25 turnovers. And they can’t seem to stick with a starting quarterback. The team has recently switched from Matt Cassel to Brady Quinn and then back to Cassel (only because Quinn is injured). Kansas City has also shied away from their bread and butter — the running game. Jamaal Charles is, by far, their best attribute on offense, ranking seventh in the NFL in rushing yards and averaging five yards per carry.
Meanwhile, the Chargers aren’t much better. Their 3-4 record suggests more than it does — that the team is merely average. But in fact, they are much worse. In last week’s game against the blundering Cleveland Browns, San Diego only scored a disastrous six points (7-6), while sputtering four times in the red zone. Quarterback Philip Rivers only connected on 18-of-34 passes for a measly 154 yards. But it wasn’t all his fault. Wide receivers dropped easy catches and the running game couldn’t find an opening for three quarters of the game. Now, there’s talk of firing head coach Norv Turner at the end of the season, but that won’t solve all their problems.
So what can we expect from this game?
Short answer: A game not worth watching.
Long answer: If you do chose to watch the game, the over/under is 41.5 points in the matchup, of which is largely too high. Both offenses struggle to string together a few first downs let alone score more than a touchdown each half. The Chiefs aren’t expected to score more than double digits in an away game with Cassel at the helm. Nor are the Chargers capable of piling on touchdown after touchdown with their red zone offense. My thoughts are bet low and don’t hold your breath for a well-played game.
