By Spread Astaire (@spreadastaire)
The Line: Chargers -1.5 (-110)
The Total: 44.5 (-110)
Monday Night Football Doubleheader: Los Angeles Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals
The Los Angeles Chargers take a short trip to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in game 2 of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. In a battle of contrasting quarterback styles, who will be the winning NFL pick?
Los Angeles Chargers
While the Chargers have always been a team that’s been recognized for their talent, they end up underachieving. To remedy this, they brought in a head coach who’s known for overachieving, Jim Harbaugh.
Fresh off a national championship at Michigan, he returned to the NFL. Harbaugh immediately put his stamp on the team. He foregone selections of high-profile skill position players to draft tackle Joe Alt out of Notre Dame and establish an offensive line. Moreover, Harbaugh is committed to a hard-nosed style of football and that starts with winning up front.
The Chargers have the third-highest run rate in the NFL this season at 52.5%. Thus, this should bode well against the NFL’s fourth-worst run defense. Consequently, look for a big day from RB JK Dobbins who is currently second in the AFC in rushing yards. Jim Harbaugh is undefeated at 6-0 in his Monday Night Football career.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a tough team to get a handle on. They have a defensive-minded head coach Johnathan Gannon but lack talent on the defensive side of the ball. They have one of the most visually exciting quarterbacks in Kyler Murray. However, Murray is plagued with questions about his attitude and ability to get it done at the NFL level.
The Cardinals are explosive however, and in fact are a threat to beat anyone. What we do know about the Cardinals is that they cannot win consistently. I believe a lot of this has to do with the attitude of their team leader, quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray is rumored to be lacking accountability for his play or the team’s success. I think this laissez-faire attitude trickles down to the team and makes coach Jonathan Gannon’s job that much harder.
Key Matchup
Chargers Offensive Line vs Cardinals Defensive Line
Los Angeles wants to run the football and the Arizona Cardinals are susceptible to that. Nevertheless, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is aware of this and should be able to try to design some schemes to slow down the Chargers rushing attack.
If the Chargers are able to run the ball on early downs, they should have a big day on the offensive end.
If the Cardinals are able to slow down the Chargers rushing attack, the Chargers lack the weapons to consistently convert on third and long. Consequently, look to the Chargers early down success rate as the key to who will win this game.
The Pick
Jim Harbaugh will improve to 7-0 on Monday Night Football. The Los Angeles has the potential to throttle the Arizona Cardinals. The Chargers strength feeds right into the Cardinals run defense weakness which should lead to an easy night for the Chargers. Additionally, the Chargers defense should be fine against a Cardinals quarterback that can get easily flustered.
A heavy dose of the Chargers run game and pass rush will be the Cardinals undoing. As a result, take the Los Angeles Chargers -1.5.
Best Bet for the Monday Night Football Doubleheader: Los Angeles Chargers -1.5 (-110)
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