The 2019 NFL week1 Colts at Chargers free pick looked a lot different a couple weeks ago before the abrupt retirement of Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck. On paper, Los Angeles would seem to be the play at -6 as the Colts have to travel across the country in the season opener. Indianapolis had a top 10 team defense a year ago though and the Chargers are still without holdout Melvin Gordon so is this one anybody’s game?
What Can the Colts Expect From Brissett?
Luck’s retirement definitely hurts but Indianapolis believes they have something in Jacoby Brissett as evidenced by their rewarding him with a 2-year $30 million contract extension in early September. Brissett went 10-15 in the preseason with a TD but how will he respond to the Chargers defense after going just 2-4 for 2 yards for the Colts in last year’s regular season?
Another big question is if there’s enough skill position players surrounding Brissett to make up for Luck’s loss. Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron are one of the better TE duos in the league which will help the inexperienced QB get confidence. Marlon Mack also had 908 yards rushing in just 12 games played last year.
The Indianapolis defense has a big test in the 2019 NFL week 1 Colts at Chargers free pick. The Colts kind of under-the-radar had a top 10 team defense a year ago that was 8th against the run and 16th vs. the pass. Darius Leonard is a bona fide stud with 163 tackles a year ago and the Colts have also added pass rusher Justin Houston from Kansas City in the offseason.
Los Angeles Just the Overall Better Team Here?
The Chargers are without Gordon until roughly week 8 but they still have Philip Rivers who is coming off a 4,300 yard season in which he threw 32 TDs. Rivers kind of wound down last year’s regular season on a slow note though, throwing only 4 total TDs in the last month. Even so, Rivers is fresh and has an arsenal of pass catchers to make up for any lack of a running game.
One of those pass catchers who is back in the fold is Hunter Henry who missed the entire regular season with an ACL injury a year ago. The Colts have a good secondary, but can they keep up with the likes of Henry as well as Keenan Allen and Mike Williams? The Chargers also believe they have a competent duo to handle the rushing game between Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson.
The LA offense will move the ball in the 2019 Colts at Chargers free pick. The big question is how will their defense fare? LA was actually 8th in team defense a year ago, ranking 9th both against the rush and the pass. Joey Bosa and company are ready to bring the heat on Brissett.
2019 NFL Week 1 Colts at Chargers Free Pick
It’s a tough task for Brissett to go across the country and beat the Chargers after only finding out he’d be the starting QB for the season a couple weeks ago. LA is a complete team both in the air, on the ground, and on defense. The total seems high on this one at 44.5 even though it has dropped by 3 points. It should actually be the Chargers defense that gets them the 10+ point win on Sunday.
Pick: LA Chargers -6
