NFL WEEK 2
GREG COTE’S THURSDAY PICK
CHARGERS (1-0) at CHIEFS (1-0)
Line: KC by 4.
Cote’s pick: KC, 30-27.
TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.
A whole new world of sports consumption will get real for a whole lot of people starting with this Thursday Night Football game, the first exclusively on Prime Video. If you’ve never had Amazon drop a package at your front door, you may be flummoxed. It will be new terrain to many, but with two familiar voices — Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit — on the call to mitigate the shock. Safe to say the matchup — Chargers at Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes vs. Justin Herbert — will be worth the effort to find it. (Up to you whether it’s also worth the cost, although there’s a free 30-day trial offer going on). Don’t care what the over/under is in this AFC West scrum (it’s 54 1/2), I trust Mahomes and Herbert to go north of the projection. Injury variables: Bolts will be without WR Keenan Allen but may have CB J.C. Jackson back, while Chiefs will be missing kicker Harrison Butker. Lots of ammo if you’re feeling an upset. LAC has won three of past four trips to Arrowhead, and Chargers adding Khalil Mack makes a strong pass rush stronger to challenge Mahomes. Still like Chiefs at home, but give us Herbert with the points in what I see as a field goal’s difference.
[Note: Betting line courtesy Caesars Sportsbook as of Wednesday afternoon.]
