Los Angeles Chargers vs. Washington Football Team Odds & Game Pick (2021)

The Justin Herbert show enters season two Sunday when he takes his Chargers cross-country to face the Football Team in Washington in the early 1 PM time slot. New quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will get his first start for the Football Team as he looks to get this team back to the playoffs.

Let’s take a closer look at the matchup itself and see where the edge remains.

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Details

• Opening Line: Washington PK, O/U 44.5
• Current Line: Washington -1, O/U 44.5
• Last meeting: December 10, 2017, LAC 30, WAS 13

	CHARGERS	+1 -110	O44.5 -110	-115
	WASHINGTON	-1 -110	U44.5 -110	-105

Overview 

Largely an afterthought to start the 2020 season, Herbert emerged for the Chargers to be one of the best young quarterbacks in the entire league, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Finishing the year with 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, Herbert looks to build on those numbers with new coordinator Joe Lombardi entering the picture.

On defense, the chargers will look to improve a unit that allowed 26.6 points per game this season, which new head coach Brandon Staley (former DC) will have a big hand in.

For the home team, Washington, second-year head coach Ron Rivera is led by a Rookie of the Year (defensive) Award winner in defensive end, Chase Young. Finishing 2020 with 7.5 sacks and 42 tackles, Young is joined by three other first-round picks on the d-line, making it one of the best in the entire league.

Having held their opponents to just 4.85 yards in 2020, the Football Team looks to take a step forward in their own right on the rookie-phenom-led side of the ball.

Check out all of our NFL Game Previews and Picks for Week 1 >>

Trends 

• The Chargers are 4-0 ATS over their last four games
• The Chargers are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five vs. Washington
• The under is 6-1 in Washington’s last seven home games

Bottom Line 

The biggest question mark for the 2021 Chargers is clearly their defense, which shouldn’t be put to too much of a test in this one. Ranking near the bottom of almost all offensive stats in 2020, I don’t see the Redkins taking any large steps forward this season and certainly not out of the gates.

I look for Herbert and this offense to get rolling early and never look back.

Pick: Chargers +1

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Johnny Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Johnny, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.