The second divisional rivalry matchup in as many nights kicks off on Friday night in São Paulo, Brazil, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers meet at Arena Corinthians at 8 p.m. EDT.
If last year’s games are any indication, tonight’s matchup should be yet another low-scoring, tightly contested affair. A year ago, the Chiefs beat the Chargers 17-10 in L.A. and 19-17 in Kansas City, extending their winning streak in this rivalry to seven games.
The Chargers’ last win over the Chiefs came back in Week 3 of the 2021 season.
Both of these teams are coming off strong seasons. Last year, the Chiefs reached yet another Super Bowl after a 15-2 regular season, while the Chargers were one of the most improved teams in the league under Jim Harbaugh, jumping from 5-12 in ’23 to 11-6 in ’24.
Chiefs vs. Chargers Betting Odds: Spread, ML
How To Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs. L.A. Chargers
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. EDT
- TV: YouTube/YouTube TV
How To Bet Chiefs vs. Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs Betting News, Outlook
- 2024 record: 15-2 (5-1 AFC West)
- 2025 win total (DK): 11.5 (over +110; under -130)
- AFC West winner odds (FD): -110
The Chiefs will be a fascinating team to watch in 2025 after an outstanding 2024 campaign ended with a shocking beatdown at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59.
The strengths of this team are well-documented, starting with No. 15, but the Chiefs have major questions to answer on offense, both along the offensive line and at wide receiver.
The days of Mahomes boasting two virtually uncoverable pass-catchers in Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill have become a distant memory over the last couple of seasons, with Hill in Miami since 2022 and Kelce finally slowing down in his age-34 (2023) and age-35 (2024) seasons.
Kelce caught 93 passes in 2023 and 97 more in 2024, but he averaged just 10.6 and 8.5 yards per catch the last two years, respectively — a significant drop from his career average of 12.1 ypc.
Kansas City does have a couple of high-upside young wide receivers, including Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice and rookie Jalen Royals. But with Rice (suspended) and Royals (injured) out, the Chiefs will be relying on Kelce, Worthy and veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown.
On the O-line, first-round rookie Josh Simmons is the starter at left tackle, and he could be one of the most important players in the league. If he solidifies that position, that addresses a major concern for an offense with a ton of upside. But if he struggles and Mahomes doesn’t consistently have time to throw, the outlook for the top team in the AFC changes dramatically.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s D, led by All-Pro D-lineman Chris Jones, All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie and an underrated supporting cast, should once again be solid.
Los Angeles Chargers Betting News, Outlook
- 2024 record: 11-6 (4-2 AFC West)
- 2025 win total (DK): 9.5 (over -105; under -115)
- AFC West winner odds (FD): +340
The Chargers suffered one of the biggest training camp injuries in the league when they lost left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending knee injury.
With Slater out of the picture, the Chargers have moved second-year tackle Joe Alt from the right side of the line to Slater’s spot on the left, and moving Trey Pipkins III into the right tackle spot. Alt was outstanding as a rookie but faces a massive challenge at a new position, and Pipkins is kicking over from right guard to right tackle, with former Eagle Mekhi Becton starting at RG.
For a run-heavy team like the Chargers, how well the reshuffled O-line holds up will be one of the keys to whether this team can return to the playoffs.
The rest of the offensive supporting cast around the Chargers includes WR Ladd McConkey, who was outstanding as a rookie a year ago and inconsistent third-year WR Quentin Johnston.
In the backfield, first-round rookie RB Omarion Hampton will split rushing duties with former Steeler Najee Harris. The latter has been cleared to go on Friday night after suffering an eye injury this summer.
The Chargers defense allowed a league-low 17.7 points per game in 2024, but struggled down the stretch, giving up at least 27 points in three of its final five games, including 32 in an ugly playoff loss to Houston.
Chiefs vs. Chargers Prediction, Best Bet
The recent history of this rivalry tells me to expect another close game tonight. That being said, I just don’t see the Chargers moving the ball well enough to upset the Chiefs.
Given the uncertainty up front, right now, L.A. looks like a worse offensive team than it was a year ago, when both points and yards were hard to come by against Kansas City.
The Chiefs hardly seem invincible given their own question marks on the O-line and at receiver, but I trust Kansas City to squeak out a low-scoring win, even if it struggles to score.
And the Chiefs have a chance to win big if they get in an early groove offensively and/or find a way to exploit a Chargers O-line with just two players starting in the same spot where they lined up last fall.
Best bet:
- Chiefs -3 (-115 at DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365) — 1 unit
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