The
Seattle Seahawks will host the
Los Angeles Chargers for an important football game during week nine of the NFL season. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers are playoff contenders this season, and every win is crucial. The two teams have not met since the 2014 season, a 30-21 victory by the then San Diego Chargers.
Seattle comes into this game having won four of their last five games to get back into the playoff picture in the NFC. The Seahawks bring a 4-3 record into this game and have a legitimate shot at a Wild Card spot this season. The Los Angeles Chargers have won four straight games but still trail the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. LA’s 5-2 record has them in a great spot to reach the playoffs this season. The Chargers are a 1.5 point underdog against the Seahawks on Sunday.
Seahawks Defense Returning To Form
The “Legion of Boom” is no more in Seattle, but
the Seahawks still feature one of the top defenses in the NFL. The Seahawks are giving up just 18.7 points per game this season, which is the fourth best average in the league. Safety
Earl Thomas leads the team with three interceptions on the season, and
Frank Clark has recorded 6.5 of the team’s 19 sacks this season.
Quarterback Russell Wilson continues to put up huge numbers to lead the Seahawks on offense. Wilson has thrown for over 1,500 yards this season to go along with 16 touchdown passes. The dual-threat quarterback has also rushed 19 times for 77 yards. Tyler Lockett has emerged as the top wide receiver for Seattle this season, racking up 394 yards and six touchdowns to lead the team.
Rivers Leading Chargers Offense
Chargers quarterback
Philip Rivers is set to make his 200th straight start on Sunday, and he is still playing at an elite level. Rivers has thrown for 2,008 passing yards already this season and is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes.
Keenan Allen is Rivers’ top target this season, hauling in 41 catches for 506 yards this season. Running back
Melvin Gordon is expected to miss this game with a hamstring injury.
The Los Angeles defense is much improved this year, giving up just 23.3 points per game. The Chargers have done this without Joey Bosa, who is expected to miss this game against the Seahawks. Los Angeles has intercepted nine passes this season, with seven different players recording a pick. The Chargers will look to slow down Wilson and the Seahawks offense in this game.
Chargers Win Fifth Straight
The Los Angeles Chargers have traditionally struggled to play in cold weather, as will be the case in Seattle on Sunday. This Chargers team just feels different this season, and Rivers will look for a big game in his 200th straight start. The Seahawks have been winning games of late, but they have taken advantage of a weak schedule. The Chargers will find a way to score enough points to dispatch the Seahawks in Seattle. Bet the Los Angeles Chargers +1.5 over the Seahawks in this game.
