It’s set to be Austin Ekeler or bust for the banged-up L.A. Chargers in the Week 15 odds opening matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders — and the latest TNF odds suggest points will come at a premium at Allegiant Stadium.
By any measure, it’s been a rough week for the Chargers. Justin Herbert was ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking a finger against the Denver Broncos, and top receiver Keenan Allen will miss this TNF showdown with a heel injury.
That leaves Easton Stick as the starting quarterback for L.A. and there are plenty of unknowns hovering around the Chargers vs Raiders props. One thing is clear though: the Chargers need production from Ekeler more than ever.
Here, we take a closer look at Austin Ekeler’s od…
After a contentious joint practice, the New York Jets will face off against the Carolina Panthers in a preseason showdown on Saturday night.
The Jets scored a 27-0 win over the Panthers in the preseason last year, but it is Carolina that comes into this game as the slight favorite in the NFL odds.
Regardless, my Jets vs. Panthers predictions break down why New York holds the edge in this exhibition clash. Let’s get into it with our free NFL picks for August 17.
Jets vs Panthers prediction
My best betJets moneyline (-105 at BetMGM)
My analysis
Both teams come into Saturday’s game with more injuries than you’d normally expect in the preseason. Thursday’s joint practice between the New York Jets a…
In return for a taste of his whisky, no less, singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers was once given some awfully vague advice: “The secret to survivin’,” the Gambler told him on a train bound for nowhere, “is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep.” Thanks for that, Gambler, care to elaborate? “You’re got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” Yes, Gambler, but how?
The boards of Leicester and Arsenal may have found themselves humming that tune earlier this season when they heard calls to sack their managers. The cries for Brendan Rodgers to be strapped into a train bound for Mutualconsentville never got as loud as the ones aimed at Mikel Arteta but there were mumblings among some fans, nonetheless, th…
Tottenham have been quietly going about their business playing very well under Nuno Espírito Santo and are the only team with a 100% winning record as a result. Travelling to Crystal Palace will likely be their biggest test yet with Son Heung-min’s fitness in doubt and the trio of Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Davinson Sánchez all unavailable. Patrick Vieira should certainly be fired up against his former north London derby rivals, and will hope his side pick up from their creditable draw at West Ham to secure a first win. In the end, Harry Kane’s superiority could be all Tottenham need to continue their barnstorming start. Graham Searles
Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1
Venue Selhurst Park
If there was a moment to make Todd Boehly think twice about making such a bold prediction ever again, it came when Karim Benzema took a pass with his back to goal just before half-time and used the outside of his right foot to produce a flick so deceptive it completely flummoxed N’Golo Kanté, the ground giving way as the ball span away from the Chelsea midfielder and Real Madrid set off on yet another counterattack.
Welcome to the Bernabéu. And Todd, thanks for your take on where European football has been going wrong all these years. A word to the wise, though: maybe keep your thoughts to yourself the next time you feel compelled to tell the world that Chelsea are going to beat the most successful club in Europe 3-0.
Benzema and Asen…
After four months as Red Bull Salzburg’s head coach Pepijn Lijnders has experienced a wide range of emotions. Jürgen Klopp’s former Liverpool assistant won six and drew two of his first eight games but has since overseen a challenging period that has included three heavy defeats. Not that it has lessened his determination. This job has, after all, been a long time in the making.
From the moment it was announced in January that Klopp and Lijnders would leave Anfield at the end of the season, the Dutchman was open to offers and a few clubs were invited to his house in Formby to explain their ideas. Salzburg were among them and it was not their first attempt to lure him.
Jürgen Klopp shakes English football’s God delusion with embrac…
Ding-dong, the strike is dead. The Deadspin staff’s WGA brethren have come to an agreement with the AMPTP that financially acknowledges the importance of the brains and fingertips that are part of the foundation of entertainment. The writers are headed back to work, which means the impending return of late-night television — although Jimmy Fallon has some explaining to do about his alleged toxic wing of 30 Rock. Other favorites such as Young Sheldon, Abbott Elementary, the Chicago series, whatever HBO series David Zaslav hasn’t canceled, and more will gradually return to air. And most importantly, professional sports script writers can get back to work. Arian Foster of course broke that news earlier this year when he said that the NFL is more acts and scenes than splits and scr…
Some people are fans of the Tampa Bay Bucs. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Tampa Bay Bucs. This 2017 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group. Read all the previews so far here. Your team: Tampa Bay Bucs. Your 2016 record: 9-7. In those seven losses, the Bucs gave up nearly five touchdowns a game. Derek Carr hung 500 yards on them (in a game where the Raiders committed 23 penalties and still won). The Rams hung 37 on them somehow. This is a rough estimate, but 90 percent of Tavon Austin’s total receiving yards last year came against the Bucs. But please keep telling me that this is an up-and-coming defense. This team still starts Chris Conte. During real games, no less! Your coach: Dirk Koetter. “Well, I am sure there are plenty of people that…
Some people are fans of the Detroit Lions. But many, many more people are NOT fans of the Detroit Lions. This 2014 Deadspin NFL team preview is for those in the latter group.
Your team: Detroit Lions
Your 2013 record: 7-9, with a 1-6 finish (including a kicker destroying them single-handedly) that led to the ouster of Jim Schwartz (he took all his Kid Rock CDs with him!) and the hiring of…
Your coach: Jim Caldwell. HOLY SHIT, JIM CALDWELL! You really did that. My God. I remember when the Lions made this hiring, I thought to myself, "You know, right before the season starts, I'm gonna remember that the Lions hired Jim Caldwell, and I will still be shocked." And I am. I'm flabbergasted. This is the single worst coaching hire since the Chargers hired Nor…
ESPN distributed new social media guidelines to its employees Thursday, which reinforced some existing rules about not breaking news exclusively on social media, respecting colleagues, and—oh wait, here’s a new thing: “Do nothing that would undercut your colleagues’ work or embroil the company in unwanted controversy.” The “unwanted” there is doing a lot of work. Unwanted for whom? The employee who feels so strongly about an issue, perhaps the direction his or her employer is going, that they use Twitter to provide their insight? Of course not. The controversies are “unwanted” for ESPN executives, who want to keep advertisers happy, avoid offending anyone at all costs, and protect the bottom line. Given the obvious and probably intentional ambiguity and subjectivity …