Chiefs vs. Chargers: TNF odds market update

Patrick Mahomes and the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs will look to avenge a Week 3 loss to their division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, in a Week 15 rematch at SoFi Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

The Chargers won the first divisional meeting in Week 3 on a last-minute, game-winning touchdown reception by Mike Williams to upset the Chiefs, 30-24, at Arrowhead.

Second-year quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 281 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Williams, who finished the day with 122 receiving yards on seven catches.

Mahomes got off to a sluggish start and tossed an interception on the Chiefs' first possession, but he bounced back to throw three touchdown passes in the second half.

His momentum came to a screeching halt on his second-to-last drive, when he recorded his second interception of the day, which set up the Chargers' game-winner with 32 seconds remaining.

Mahomes' season has been far from MVP-caliber, but he posted a respectable two-touchdown outing against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, which marked just his second multiple-touchdown performance since Week 7. 

In spite of his offensive struggles, Kansas City has built a six-win streak behind an impressive display by its defense.

The Chargers are also riding a win streak of two games and sit one game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West.

Let's see how the public is betting the moneyline, point spread, and totals at TwinSpires Sports ahead of this critical Week 15 Thursday Night Football battle.

Even with Kansas City playing on the road in a rematch against a team that beat it in Week 3, a majority of the public is backing the Chiefs to win outright on Thursday.

The Chiefs own a 64-58-1 all-time record against their division rival, and have won all but three of the past 15 head-to-head matchups.

The Chargers won the last two games against Kansas City, both at Arrowhead, but as the home team, Los Angeles has not defeated the Chiefs since 2013.

Bettors are also backing the Chiefs to cover the three-point spread as a road favorite.

Kansas City is 3-2 against the spread when favored on the road this season, while Los Angeles is 3-4 ATS as the home team in 2021.

The status of Chargers running back Austin Ekeler may be another reason the betting public is feeling confident in the Chiefs. The veteran back, who ranks fifth in rushing touchdowns in the league (nine), was limited in practice all week with an ankle injury.

Ekeler is expected to play, but will be at less than 100 percent.

Williams was also limited in practice for part of the week with a heel issue, and tight ends Jared Cook and Donald Parham Jr. both missed Monday's practice with leg injuries.

Despite the Chargers offense dealing with injuries, bettors expect a high-scoring game.

More than 60% of all handle and tickets are backing the Over (52) in a game featuring two teams tied for eighth in the league in points per contest (27).

The Chiefs boast the better scoring defense, which ranks sixth in points allowed (20.6), while the Chargers surrender 25.8 points, sixth most in the NFL.

The Over is 5-2 in the Chargers' last seven games overall, but the Under is 6-2 in Kansas City's last eight games as a favorite. The Under has also hit in five of the last seven meetings in which the Chargers are the home team.