The Chargers will try to keep their playoff hopes alive Sunday when they travel to face the floundering Cardinals. The Chargers are laying a field goal on the road with a total of 48.
The good news for Arizona is it gets back starting quarterback Kyler Murray. The bad news is it might not matter. Arizona looked lifeless in its loss Monday night to the 49ers, but it went way beyond just having backup Colt McCoy under center.
San Francisco ripped the Cardinals’ pillow soft defense for 387 yards and 6.8 yards per play. Defense has been optional in the desert this year. Arizona ranks 24th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense, allowing 26.9 yards per game.
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Luckily for the Cardinals, they are facing a defense just as bad on Sunday. The Chargers spent a lot of money this offseason to upgrade on the defensive side of the ball, but it just hasn’t happened. Los Angeles ranks 25th in total defense and 29th in scoring defense, giving up 25.8 points per game.
Betting on the NFL?
It’s not always as easy as saying, “These two teams give up a combined 53 points per game, bet the Over!” However, I do see both Murray and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert having a lot of success in this matchup because both defenses are getting worse late in the season. The Chargers have given up an average of 26.5 points in their past four games, and Arizona has allowed 30-plus in four of its past five.
This total should probably be in the 50s, so I’ll go Over 48.
The play: Chargers-Cardinals Over 48.5.
