The Kansas City Chiefs will visit the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in the NFL Week 15 edition of Thursday Night Football at 8:20 p.m ET on the NFL Network with first place in the AFC West on the line.
Both teams remain within a game of each other in the standings after enjoying blowout wins in Week 14. The 9-4 Chiefs will look to stay on top of the AFC West with a seventh straight victory, while the 8-4 Chargers will look to reclaim first place after allowing Kansas City to pass them.
Who will prevail in primetime between these two high-powered offenses? Let’s dig in with our NFL Week 15 TNF predictions and best bets.
The Chiefs’ dominant win over the Raiders puts them on a six-game winning streak. Their offense is warming up, and the return of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is certainly a boost. Mahomes averaged more than 10 yards per attempt for the second time this season despite attempting only 24 passes all day — his lowest total of the year.
With the defense playing so well, causing turnovers, short-field situations, and scoring points of their own, there is less pressure on Mahomes than ever. He’s able to manage games a lot easier and isn’t being forced to produce heroics in order for his team to win. The worry for the rest of the league is, are the Chiefs putting it all together just in time for the playoffs?
The Chargers boast an 8-5 record of their own, placing them one game behind the Chiefs in the division. A win against their AFC West rival gives them the division lead, knocking Kansas City down to wild-card position, and puts the Chargers in position to fight for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They’ve already beaten the Chiefs once this season, 30-24 at Arrowhead Stadium, and could sweep them for the first time since 2013 — Andy Reid’s first year as Chiefs head coach.
So can the Chargers step up behind quarterback Justin Herbert and stop the Chiefs dead in their tracks? Or will Reid and Co. keep marching on in search of their third straight Super Bowl appearance?
Prediction: Chiefs -3