NFL WEEK 14 BEST BETS: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Summary
The Philadelphia Eagles, struggling with team issues and a recent loss, face the Los Angeles Chargers, who are coming off a strong win. The Chargers lead the all-time series 8-5, winning their last meeting in 2021. Despite Justin Herbert’s questionable status with a hand injury, the prediction favors a Los Angeles home upset, with a final score of 27-23. This means the Chargers are expected to cover the +2.5 point spread and the total points should go over 41.5.
Key betting suggestions include Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith each scoring a touchdown. Other highlighted bets involve Hurts passing for under 201.5 yards while A.J. Brown exceeds 52.5 receiving yards. If Herbert plays, bets on his passing yards, along with Ladd McConkey and Kimani Vidal scoring, are also recommended.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (+2.5, O/U: 41.5)
THE HISTORY
As one of the original AFL teams that never so much as sniffed the NFC, it will not surprise you to learn the Chargers do not have a storied history with the Eagles. This will just be the 14th all-time meeting between the two franchises in a series that began my first year on this planet, 1974. Los Angeles leads the match-up 8-5 and won 27-24 the last time they faced off back on Nov. 7, 2021. Justin Herbert was 32 of 38 for 356 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. He also scrambled for 14 yards and a score. Austin Ekeler rushed 17 times for 59 yards. Keenan Allen hauled in 12 passes for 104 yards. In defeat, Jalen Hurts was 11 of 17 for 162 yards, one TD and no picks. He added 10 rushes for 62 yards on the ground. Jordan Howard, since retired (I guess, he hasn’t recorded a stat since 2022) carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. Devonta Smith caught five passes for 116 yards and a TD.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-4)
The Eagles’ downward spiral continued last week with a 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears in front of a nationally televised audience recovering from their injuries from Black Friday shopping. Jalen Hurts was 19 of 34 passing for 230 yards, two touchdowns and a pick in the loss. He wasn’t sacked and rushed four times for 31 yards. Saquon Barkley continued to struggle with 13 rushes for 56 yards. AJ Brown had a game good enough to keep him happy for a week, hauling in 10 passes for 132 yards and two scores. The defense sacked Caleb Williams twice and picked him off once but gave up a ridiculous 281 yards on the ground.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8-4)
Los Angeles bounced back from a debilitating loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars by beating up on the hapless Las Vegas Raiders, 31-14 last week. Justin Herbert was 15 of 20 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a game that saw him get his left, non-throwing hand, injured. He was sacked three times. Trey Lance entered, going 1 of 1 for nine yards. Kimani Vidal carried the ball 25 times for 126 yards and a score. Ladd McConkey caught four passes for 39 yards and a TD. The defense sacked Geno Smith five times, picked him off once and held the Raiders to just 31 yards on the ground.
BEST BETS
I know Herbert’s status remains up in the air and he’s officially “questionable” as of this writing, but I still like the Chargers here in a home upset. I have no faith in this Philly team at all. Considering how the Kansas City Chiefs have completely fallen off the map, this should have been an easy year to repeat for the Eagles (and for the Buffalo Bills to actually make the Super Bowl) and both teams are faceplanting in the process. For the Bills, it’s coaching and bad game management. For Philadelphia, it’s that plus so much team drama Andy Cohen needs to step in for an After show. In The FAQ, I picked LA to win 27-23 and I’m sticking with it, regardless of who quarterbacks the Chargers, which means LA covers and we get the over.
Over the last few weeks we’ve combined teams for the best possible player parlays, but with Herbert’s status, we can’t do that. And while I do think the Eagles will go down, I don’t think it will be without a fight. As such, I like Jalen Hurts and Devonta Smith to score touchdowns. That pays at +600.
I like Jalen Hurts to pass for under 201.5 passing yards and for AJ Brown to get more than 52.5 receiving yards. That pays at +260.
If you want to put all those together, they pay at +2500.
Herbert’s situation is more tricky, but we should know Monday by betting time. If he does play, go with Herbert passing for more than 234.5 passing yards, Ladd McConkey receiving more than 56.5 yards, scoring a TD and Kimani Vidal making it into the end zone. That pays at +2500. If you take Herbert out of it, it pays at +1400.
Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan
