- What: NFL Regular Season Game
- When: October 21, 2024
- Who: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Time: 6:00 p.m. PST
- Where: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ)
The Arizona Cardinals will host the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers defense has undergone a significant transformation under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The successful partnership between new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh and Minter, who was brought in from Michigan, has contributed to the Chargers allowing an NFL-low 13.2 points per game.
In addition to allowing the fewest points per game, the Chargers entered Week 7 with the sixth-fewest yards per game in the NFL. They have excelled as the top rushing defense in the league and have also demonstrated a strong performance as a top-five passing defense.
primetime fit pic.twitter.com/QeJxJ2xBcp
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 19, 2024
The absence of Joey Bosa against a mobile quarterback like Kyler Murray stings, but the Chargers have mainly relied on their defense to win, keeping all five of their opponents to 20 points or less. This includes the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, although they did lose that game.
They have shifted to a run-first team, relying heavily on J.K. Dobbins, who has been averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per carry. Additionally, quarterback Justin Herbert has demonstrated efficiency as a passer, completing 64% 64 percent of his passes and throwing only one interception in his first five games.
Herbert has passed for 815 yards, with six touchdowns and just one interception. His primary receiver has been rookie Ladd McConkey, who has 19 receptions for 219 yards and scored a touchdown.
The Chargers have faced challenges in putting up points at the start of the season, but they managed to score 23 points in the first three-quarters of their last game against the Denver Broncos.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals boast a wealth of offensive talent, yet they are averaging only 22.2 points per game this season. In their last four games, they have suffered three losses, including a recent 34-13 road defeat to the Green Bay Packers.
Running back James Conner is a key force in the team’s rushing attack. He has carried the ball 90 times for 403 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and scoring three touchdowns. He’s had three explosive plays, including a 22-yard long run.
Monday Night Lights pic.twitter.com/uBnFDyIdyA
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 21, 2024
Conner has achieved 100 or more rushing yards twice this season, with one standout performance being his 21 carries for 122 yards and one touchdown in a 41-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 15.
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has struggled in his last seven prime-time starts, with a 1-6 record. Despite his dual-threat ability, Murray averages less than 200 passing yards per game.
In addition, the Arizona defense is currently struggling, conceding over 27 points per game, which makes it one of the weakest in the NFL.
The Cardinals are particularly susceptible to passing plays. They have given up 1,322 yards through the air and allowed 10 touchdowns.
Chargers-Cards Best Bet
The Chargers and Cardinals seem to play very similar styles. Both teams rely on the ground game to open up the pass for their star quarterbacks.
The Cardinals’ defense has been their weak spot in recent weeks, and I doubt their offense can overcome its shortcomings. This Chargers squad has become a traditional, hard-nosed Jim Harbaugh team.
They are tough to play and win low-scoring games. As remarkable as Kyler Murray can be when he creates outside of the pocket, the Chargers defense will keep him in check tonight.
The Chargers on the moneyline is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
