NFL Playoff Betting Chargers @ Bucs (XBOX Sim)

San Diego Chargers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 ET CBS

Weather: Partly cloudy with highs in the upper 70s, lows in the upper 50s.

Week 16 of the NFL football betting season continues Sunday afternoon in a non-conference sports betting showdown when the San Diego Chargers (6-8, 5-8-1 ATS) invade Raymond James Stadium to match wits with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5, 8-6 ATS); kick-off is slated for 1:00 ET and the game can be seen nationally on CBS. It’s do or die for the Chargers who currently sit two-games in back of the AFC West leading Denver Broncos. The Bucs still remain in the hunt for an NFC Wildcard slot, and still hold their own destiny even after a disappointing overtime loss in Atlanta last week.

San Diego pulled off another improbable come-from-behind victory last weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs. Down 21-3 a couple minutes into the 3rd quarter, the pesky Chargers staged a comeback for the ages by scoring the games final 19 points to secure their sixth win of the season. SD bettors were forced to rip up their tickets, but Charger fans loved every second of the one-point win. Since destroying New England at home back on October 12th, the Chargers are 3-5 SU and 2-6 ATS with the three victories coming against the AFC West rival Chiefs and Raiders. It most definitely hasn’t been a regular season to remember for the Chargers, but a win here would set up an elimination game next week at home against the Denver Broncos. You know QB Phillip Rivers and company would love nothing more than to avenge the game referee Ed Hochuli stole from them way back in Week 2.

At one point this season, the Buccaneers held a firm grasp on the #1 spot of the NFC South, but back-to-back losses to Carolina and Atlanta find them two games in back of the division leading Panthers and tied with Atlanta for the sixth and final playoff spot. The team bounced back admirably after falling into a 10-0 deficit last week, but they couldn’t see the comeback all the way through and lost by a FG in OT. This veteran club has dealt with injuries throughout the season, but the bugs in attack mode right now and it seems to have taken some of the spirit out of this veteran bunch. That said; Tampa’s a perfect 6-0 SU at home this season and cashed NFL bettors tickets in four of those contests. There’s no other place they’d rather be in than Raymond James Stadium, so expect HC Gruden’s men to put their best foot forward and give the visiting Chargers their best effort.

It’s been better than four years since these teams last met. San Diego got the best of the Bucs that day at home (31-24) as 4.5-point favorites. The Chargers have been money in the bank in December the last couple seasons compiling a 6-1 ATS mark their L/7 games, but they’re just 1-4 ATS their L/4 road games with the lone cover coming in that wild game at Pittsburgh back in Week 11. Tampa Bay’s covered just once against the L/5 losing teams its faced, but their 9-4 ATS their L/13 after a SU loss and 7-3 ATS their L/10 as a home favorite.

1st Quarter:

The Bucs received the game’s opening kick and started out at their own 23-yard line. RB Warrick Dunn scampered for an eight-yard gain on 1st down, and then QB Jeff Garcia (back from his foot injury) hit his favorite target, WR Antonio Bryant, for 12-yards to move the chains. The Bucs were called for holding on the next play, and the offense never got ahead of the chains again. Punting time…

San Diego took possession of the ball at its own 27-yard line. QB Phillip Rivers was a bit too amped up and overthrew his receivers on the first two plays, and then RB LaDainian Tomlinson dropped what would have amounted to a 10+ yard catch and run. A three and out allowed the Bucs to take over with decent field position at their own 41.

The Bucs looked deep on 1st down, and it paid off when a SD defender got flagged for a 25-yard pass interference penalty. RB Dunn moved the chains on the next two plays, and then Garcia hit WR Bryant on a pair of 12-yard receptions; the second of which hit pay dirt to give the Bucs the first lead of the game.

The Chargers second possession started out beautifully when QB Rivers connected with WR Vincent Jackson for a 21-yard gain, but the drive stalled after Rivers’ next three passes fell harmlessly to the ground.

The Bucs moved the chains once on their next drive due to the RB tandem of Warrick Dunn and Carnell Williams, but it stalled after that and they were forced to punt.

The Chargers were mounting a drive as the first quarter came to a close….

SAN DIEGO 0 TAMPA BAY 7

2nd QUARTER

San Diego churned out a solid 12-play drive much to the efforts of RBs Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, but it stalled out at Tampa’s six-yard line. K Nate Kaeding calmly nailed the 23-yarder to get the visitors on the board.

Neither team did anything with its next two possessions, but the Chargers looked on the verge of putting points on the board when they got to midfield with under a minute left in the quarter. However, TB CB Phillip Buchanon hauled in a deflected pass to stop the drive in its tracks.

The Bucs immediately took advantage of the mistake when Garcia hooked up with WR Bryant for a huge 21-yard pass and catch. The Bucs went no huddle but to no avail as the Chargers defense wasn’t letting them get into the endzone right before the break. HC Gruden had to settle for the 37-yard FG attempt by Matt Bryant who extended the lead to a TD with just 12 seconds left in the half.

SAN DIEGO 3 TAMPA BAY 10

3rd Quarter

After both clubs failed to do much of anything on their first two drives of the second half, San Diego mounted a charge that saw them get into Tampa territory on just two plays. RB Tomlinson ripped off a 17-yard gain up the gut of the Tampa “D” that’s been abused the last couple weeks, and then Rivers connected with WR Malcolm Floyd for 20 that set the Chargers up 1st and 10 at the Bucs 35-yard line. Then penalties reared their ugly head. After a false start, an O-Lineman was called for holding. The Chargers managed to get back to the 35-yard line on the their next three plays, but Kaeding’s 52-yard attempt sailed wide right.

San Diego got the ball right back after Tampa went three and out, and the Chargers offense then proceeded to churn out its best drive of the game. It all started at SD’s 17-yard line. RB Tomlinson was a running machine on the Chargers next four plays toting the rock four times to pick up a total of 24 yards. Rivers then hit WR Chris Chambers in stride for a solid 20-yard gain to get the Chargers into Tampa territory. Tomlinson got stuffed for a four-yard loss on 1st down, but then RB Sproles ripped off seven before Rivers hit Chambers for another 21-yard gain as the 3rd quarter came to a close.

SAN DIEGO 3 TAMPA BAY 10

4TH QUARTER

RB Sproles got the Chargers all the way down to the Bucs 4-yard line on a draw that went for 12, and then LT plunged into the endzone from four-yards out to tie the game at 10 apiece. The balloon that was Raymond James Stadium deflated immediately and some of the spectators were actually seen headed towards the exits, so much for staying until the bitter end….

Not to be outdone by his counterpart in the backfield, RB Warrick Dunn mimicked Tomlinson’s efforts from SD’s previous drive. He got the ball on seven of the Bucs 10 plays that ultimately led to K Bryant nailing a 43-yard FG to put the Bucs back on top by three. QB Rivers was seen pumping himself up on the sideline in hopes of leading his team to another come-from-behind victory.

The drive started off beautifully for the Chargers after “mini-me” RB Darren Sproles got the ball all the way out to the Chargers 44-yard line. TE Antonio Gates dropped QB Rivers first pass and the QB was seen chastising his TE in the huddle. WR Chris Chambers was already having a big day, and continued his excellence by hauling in a 15-yard pass on an out-route. With less then a minute to go, SD was in fine shape with two timeouts.

Staring at a 1st and 10 at the Bucs 41-yard line, the Chargers called for the screen and LT delivered. After getting past the first wave of Tampa defenders, Tomlinson raced for the endzone but was tripped up on an ankle tackle by Bucs veteran CB Ronde Barber. The Chargers quickly called time-out to discuss the next play. Now at Tampa’s four-yard line and less than 20 seconds in the game, the Chargers tried to sneak one into Chris Chambers on a slant route but the pass was deflected and fell incomplete. Their next play saw them go play action, but the Bucs had the Chargers receivers blanketed forcing Rivers to tuck it and run. It looked as if he was going to get creamed at the two-yard line, but a pump fake forced LB Barrett Ruud to stutter and it was just enough to allow Rivers to sneak into the endzone as time expired. Rivers spiked the ball into the turf and was horded by his teammates in celebration. The cardiac Chargers will live to fight another day, while the Bucs will be forced to root like hell for the Vikings in their afternoon match-up with the Falcons.

FINAL SCORE: SAN DIEGO 17 TAMPA BAY 13

This game simulation calls for an outright San Diego victory and for the combined score to go under the ‘total’. You can get San Diego (+3) +110 and the Under 42.5 –110 at BetOnline.com right now!!!

  1 2 3 4 Final SAN DIEGO 0 3 0 14 17 TAMPA BAY 7 3 0 3 13

QB Phillip Rivers: 25/39 197 yards 0 TD 1 INT

QB Jeff Garcia: 10/24 124 yards 1 TD 0 INT

RB LaDainian Tomlinson: 19 carries for 79 yards 1 TD Long of 16

RB Warrick Dunn: 23 carries for 104 yards 1 TD Long of 17

WR Chris Chambers: 7 receptions for 99 yards 0 TD Long of 20

WR Antonio Bryant: 6 receptions for 81 yards 1 TD Long of 21

  SD TBY TOTAL OFFENSE 280 225 RUSHING YARDS 83 101 PASSING YARDS 197 124 1ST DOWNS 13 11 TOTAL YARDS 341 287 TURNOVERS 1 0 3RD DOWN CONV 4/14 28% 3/14 21% PENALTIES 3-45 2-25 TIME OF POSSESSION 33:45 34:35