This Sunday, it’s a high powered AFC West showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs featuring two of the best quarterbacks in the league with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes. Neither team is playing at their best right now, but there’s still a lot of season left. Before I look ahead to this awesome matchup, a recap of the Chiefs win last Thursday over the Denver Broncos and the Chargers heartbreaking loss against the Dallas Cowboys.
Chiefs Capture an Ugly Win
Last Thursday against the Denver Broncos, it was another “ugly win” if you will, this time 19-8. The defense once again had another outstanding performance, albeit against a subpar offense. The Chiefs held the Broncos to 197 total yards and had a shutout through three quarters. It marked the fifth straight game of the defense holding their opponent to under 20 points. They also caused three Broncos turnovers. Patrick Mahomes has obviously taken notice of how well they have played recently and also realizes the offense is still going through growing pains: “you ask the guys in the locker room right now, they’re going to say we didn’t play our best… but luckily our defense is playing so well we can still win football games”. The Chiefs currently rank in the top 10 in total defense in the league. They are coming, so watch out.
Offense Finds a Way
Travis Kelce led the team in receptions and yards with nine receptions and 124 yards. Kadarius Toney was the lone touchdown scorer for the night on a four yard touchdown reception. In all, Patrick Mahomes went 30-40 for 303 yards, the touchdown pass to Toney and an interception. The big boost came from kicker Harrison Butker when the offense needed it, as he went 4-4 on field goal attempts including a 60 yard field goal before halftime. It was not pretty, but once again the offense found a way. With Justin Watson out for a few weeks with an elbow injury, it would not shock me if general manager Brett Veach traded for a receiver by the October 31 trade deadline. We shall wait and see…
Chargers Come to Town
The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a disappointing loss against the Dallas Cowboys last Monday night 20-17. The loss dropped them to 2-3 and in some ways makes Sunday a must win game for them given how competitive the AFC is. In the game against the Cowboys, they had the ball in their hands with two minutes to go trailing 20-17 and their final possession did not go well: incomplete pass on first down, Micah Parson sack on second down and the last play of the game was an interception thrown by Justin Herbert. It’s become an all too familiar feeling for Chargers fans the last couple of seasons: so close, yet so far. Over the last two years, Los Angeles has gone 6-8 in games decided by seven points or less. That list includes a 27-24 loss at Arrowhead Stadium last September. If the pattern of close games between these two teams holds true, get ready for another nailbiter this weekend. The game will be broadcast on CBS at 3:25PM Central Time, 1:25 Pacific.
