The Los Angeles Chargers (2-2) and Denver Broncos (3-2) will kick off the NFL Week 6 Sunday afternoon slate. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on CBS. The game can be streamed on Paramount+, YouTube TV and other streaming services.
The Chargers are 3-point favorites over the Broncos (Chargers -3) after the spread opened at the same number. The game total is 35.5 after opening at 43. Los Angeles is -165 to win outright on the moneyline, while Denver is +140 to pull off the upset.
The Chargers are coming off their bye week but have lost two straight. Los Angeles has scored 10 points in each of those losses, which were to the Steelers and Chiefs. The Broncos won 34-18 against the Raiders last week. Bo Nix had 206 yards and two touchdowns last week; the Denver defense has given up 11.75 points per game over its last four.
Let's get into my Chargers vs. Broncos prediction and my NFL picks and predictions for Week 6.
Chargers vs. Broncos Odds, Pick, Prediction
| Chargers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 35.5 -110 / -110 | -165 |
| Broncos Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 35.5 -110 / -110 | +140 |
- Chargers vs. Broncos spread: Chargers -3
- Chargers vs. Broncos over/under: 35.5 points
- Chargers vs. Broncos moneyline: Chargers -165, Broncos +140
- Chargers vs. Broncos pick:Broncos +3
My Broncos vs. Chargers best bet is on Denver as a home underdog. For all of your NFL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NFL odds page.
Spread
I simply cannot get to this number. I don't think the Chargers are that much better than the Broncos to be a three-point favorite on the road.
Moneyline
I'm taking the points with Denver and not betting on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm in line with the disgustingly low total for this game and have no pick on it.
My pick: Broncos +3
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos NFL Week 6 Preview
Yes, the Chargers are coming off their bye week, so you give them a boost for that, but this line indicates that they’re 4.5 points better than Denver — maybe five on a neutral field depending on how much you value Denver's home field.
I just can't get there.
Justin Herbert will be healthier, and he’ll have both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back to protect him, but are any of them 100%?
These teams are quite similar. They have very good defenses with offenses that really haven't done anything yet.
According to DVOA, the Chargers are second on defense, 24th on offense and 19th overall. The Broncos are fourth on defense, 25th on offense and 16th overall.
Both defensive units have thrived this season, but there's one key difference between them. The Chargers are 24th in pressure, while the Broncos are all the way up in second. The Chargers also allow the second-highest completion rate in the NFL.
I don't have enough confidence in the Chargers to bump them up four or five points from how they've been playing. Los Angeles wants to run the ball, but it has been one of the worst rush offenses in the league.
The Chargers’ early down success rate when running the ball is 30.2%, which is 30th. Denver, for all of its struggles and uncertainty in the backfield, is eighth.
It's going to be a defensive game. Bo Nicks might average 2.2 yards per attempt, but he's not taking many sacks anymore or committing many turnovers.
Sean Payton is 52-35 against the spread as an underdog and 3-1 this season. He dragged the ghost of Russell Wilson and a defense that gave up 70 points to eight wins last season.
There’s a legitimate chance that this Broncos team is well above average, but we don’t know it yet.
Pick: Broncos +3
Betting Trends
- 62% of bets and 61% of the money are on the Broncos to cover the spread.
- 90% of bets and 81% of the money are on the over.
- 42% of bets and 70% of the money on the moneyline are on the Broncos.
How to Watch: Time, Channel, Streaming
| Location: | Empower Field at Mile High |
| Date: | Sunday, Oct. 13 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS / Paramount+ and YouTube TV |
Broncos vs. Chargers is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. ET start time, live from Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Sunday, Oct. 13. The game is broadcast live by CBS and is streaming on Paramount+ and YouTube TV.
NFL Weather
