The Week 16 Saturday nightcap options two groups heading in diametrically totally different instructions.
The Buffalo Payments (8-6) have gained three of 4 since firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and are coming off a shellacking of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The Payments are making a late-season push for an AFC wild-card playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), in the meantime, are vying for a top-10 decide within the 2024 NFL draft. After final week’s embarrassment in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco. Giff Smith was elevated to interim coach to assist steer this sinking ship by way of its ultimate three video games.
USA TODAY Sports activities will present the most recent updates, scores, highlights, wild performs, evaluation and extra all through the Payments-Chargers sport. Observe alongside.
Chargers 3, Payments 0: Chargers’ spectacular opening drive ends in subject objective
Easton Stick and the Chargers had a strong opening drive.
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Stick led the Chargers on a 14-play, 90-yard drive that led to a brief 20-yard subject objective by kicker Cameron Dicker.
Stick accomplished 5 passes throughout Los Angeles’ opening sequence. Rookie huge receiver Quentin Johnston had one catch for 21 yards.
Payments WR Stefon Diggs checks out after first play however returns
Payments star huge receiver Stefon Diggs was shaken up on Buffalo’s first offensive snap. Diggs was injured after he was tripped up by Chargers security Derwin James following a brief completion. Diggs was in a position to jog off the sector. He solely missed one play. The Payments had been compelled to punt the soccer a couple of performs later.
What time is the Payments vs. Chargers sport?
Kickoff for the Payments-Chargers sport is 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 23 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
How can I watch or stream the Payments vs. Chargers sport?
The Payments-Chargers sport will probably be streamed stay on Peacock.
That is the primary NFL regular-season sport to air solely on Peacock. Peacock — which streams all “Sunday Evening Soccer” video games broadcast on NBC — additionally will stream a wild-card playoff sport on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
Payments at Chargers: Predictions, picks and odds
The Payments are favorites to defeat the Chargers, in keeping with BetMGM NFL odds.
- Unfold: Payments (-12)
- Moneyline: Payments (-700); Chargers (+550)
- Over/below: 44
USA TODAY Sports activities’ employees picks for this sport:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Payments 29, Chargers 14 — It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the Chargers bounce again from Brandon Staley’s firing. Typically, groups can get a bit of bump within the week following a training change. However Buffalo is crimson scorching and appears like probably the most harmful workforce within the AFC proper now and Los Angeles remains to be beginning Easton Stick. Logic says again the stronger squad, even with the massive line.
- Tyler Dragon: Payments 31, Chargers 13 — The Payments are one of many hottest groups within the NFL proper now. In the meantime, the Chargers, who fired coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco, are already interested by subsequent season. One workforce is pushing for a playoff berth and the opposite is taking part in for satisfaction whereas additionally interested by trip plans. We all know how this one will go.
- Safid Deen: Payments 27, Chargers 13 — The Chargers waived the white flag final Thursday in opposition to the Raiders in embarrassing trend, and the top of the 12 months can’t come quick sufficient. In the meantime, the Payments see the street to the postseason inside their grasp and may win simply in Los Angeles.
- Victoria Hernandez: Payments 27, Chargers 19 — Buffalo has a number of momentum after an upset win. Josh Allen admitted he had a far-from-stellar outing, nevertheless it was completely superb that James Cook dinner carried the Payments. Los Angeles doesn’t have sufficient instruments to maintain up. This can be a huge unfold for a street sport the place the Payments must journey throughout the nation, so take the moneyline.
- Jordan Mendoza: Payments 33, Chargers 13 — It is likely to be a great factor this sport will solely be obtainable on Peacock, because it may not be one price tuning into. The Chargers hit a brand new low final week, and it will not get any simpler going in opposition to an offense that has discovered its rhythm. Buffalo does not make this a contest and wins its third straight.
Payments inactives at present
Chargers inactives at present
Who’s Chargers interim coach Giff Smith?
After the Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and normal supervisor Tom Telesco following the workforce’s 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, outdoors linebackers coach Giff Smith was elevated to interim head coach.
The 55-year-old Smith is a 32-year teaching veteran, with 12 of these years within the NFL. Smith served because the Chargers’ outdoors linebackers coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Earlier than that, he was the Chargers’ defensive position coach for six seasons (2016-2021). Previous to becoming a member of the Chargers (again when the workforce known as San Diego its dwelling), Smith’s different NFL stops had been with the Tennessee Titans (2014-15 as defensive position coach) and Buffalo Payments (2010-12 as defensive position coach).
You are by no means too previous to get your groove on.
In October, Los Angeles Chargers security Derwin James hosted “Derwin’s Disco” at Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, a group middle for older adults in Los Angeles. His objective was to carry pleasure to an usually forgotten inhabitants.
James rocked an afro and wore a colourful jacket and white bell bottoms for the affair, which was attended by about 100 GenSpace members. He took selfies, led the “Y.M.C.A” and danced with a number of of the company individually. — Victoria Hernandez
Payments at Chargers: Betting recommendation for Saturday evening’s NFL sport
The high NFL betting apps listing the Los Angeles Chargers as one of many finest bets for NFL Week 16 of their marquee matchup with the Buffalo Payments. The Chargers are getting 12.5 factors at dwelling, in keeping with the BetMGM NFL odds. Trying to wager? Try the finest cellular sports activities betting apps providing NFL betting promos in 2023.
In response to the high NFL betting apps, neither workforce boasts a participant with the finest NFL MVP betting odds. Neither workforce is listed with the finest Tremendous Bowl betting odds in 2023.
Not on this sport? Our information to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you coated with Thursday Evening Soccer odds, Sunday Evening Soccer odds and/or Monday Evening Soccer odds.
If you happen to’re new to sports activities betting, don’t fear. We’ve suggestions for newcomers on easy methods to place a wager on-line. And USA TODAY readers can declare unique promos and bonus codes with these on-line sportsbooks and sports activities betting websites. — Richard Morin
Regardless of all of the adversity, on and off the sector, the Payments are an actual menace to make it to the postseason. The division title is even nonetheless a chance with the Miami Dolphins dealing with a frightening two-game slate (vs. Dallas Cowboys and on the Baltimore Ravens) earlier than internet hosting the Payments within the regular-season finale. — Nate Davis
The Chargers’ disappointing season has an honest comfort prize … a doable excessive decide within the 2024 NFL draft (and with it a distinguished place within the seemingly countless run of mock drafts).
Right here is the highest 10 2024 draft order heading into Week 16:
- Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
The final time the Chargers picked within the high 10 was 2020, when the workforce chosen quarterback Justin Herbert with the No. 6 total decide. — Jim Reineking
Who’s the highest-paid NFL participant?
The NFL’s high 15 gamers in common annual wage are all quarterbacks, in keeping with OverTheCap.com. As Joe Burrow proved in his new cope with the Cincinnati Bengals, groups place an enormous precedence on having a top-flight QB below middle. Burrow’s five-year, $275 million contract extension made him the league’s highest paid participant at a staggering common annual worth of $55 million. San Francisco 49ers defensive finish Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback within the league after signing a five-year, $170 million extension.
Right here’s the whole listing of the league’s highest-paid gamers.
Who’re the best paid NFL gamers at every place?
We’ve a whole listing at each place:
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