Washington Football Team vs Los Angeles Chargers 9/12/21 NFL Picks, Odds, Predictions
Los Angeles Chargers (0-0) vs. Washington Football Team (0-0)
September 12, 2021 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: Washington Football Team +1 / Los Angeles Chargers -1; Over/Under: 45.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Washington Football Team meet the Los Angeles Chargers in week 1 NFL action from FedEx Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Los Angeles Chargers will look to take another step forward under first-year head coach Brandon Staley, hoping to improve on a 7-9 mark in 2020 with a potential first playoff spot since 2018 and maybe even a first division title since 2009. It’s mostly returning parts for the Charger offense, led by second-year QB Justin Herbert who lit the NFL on fire last season once he took over the Los Angeles offense. Austin Ekeler and Josh Kelley provide the two=headed monster in L.A.’s backfield and Keenan Allen and Mike Williams make up a stellar 1-2 punch at receiver. Defensively, Linval Joseph, Joey Bosa, Kyler Fackrell and rookie Amen Ogbongbemiga sit in front of a loaded Charger secondary featuring pieces like Derwin James, Chris Harris Jr. and rookie Asante Samuel Jr.
The Washington Football Team will try to take another step forward under Ron Rivera and potentially make the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in almost 30 years. The WFT made their stake at QB by picking up Ryan Fitzpatrick while the WFT have arguably one of the best running back groups in the entire NFL with Antonio Gibson, Jaret Patterson and J.D. McKissic all in the mix. Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel lead the receiving group for Washington, while the defense is headlined by players like Montez Sweat, Chase Young, Jon Bostic, Kamren Curl and Landon Collins.cn
Los Angeles is 15-7-2 ATS in their last 24 road games and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall while the under is 6-0 in their last 6 September games. Washington is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog while the under is 6-1 in their last 7 home games.
I’ll give the WFT full marks for their defensive prowess under Ron Rivera last season but I’m simply not a Ryan Fitzpatrick guy. It’s almost like the hype train effect, and the resemblance to Conor McGregor for me is uncanny to those of you that are also UFC fans. He carries himself out in a way that’s out there, style-wise, but when it gets down to the action, it tends to be a lot of bark and very little bite. Justin Herbert was every bit as good as advertised last season, and I’d argue that the defense for the Chargers got better as well. I’m not loving having to take a road team like this week 1, but I think the Chargers are the play here.
