Chargers at Chiefs: OPEN THREAD

Laddie Morse

This is the game that may just as well decide the fate of the 2023 season for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. While some are expecting a tight game, which K.C. always seems to be involved with, this could end up a blowout with the Chiefs on the winning end of course. The question is, why would I say that. Well, the Chiefs Defense is getting stronger with Charles Omenihu returning and their back end defense is getting stronger and stronger as the weeks go by. Not to mention the Chiefs Linebacking corp, which is now one of the NFL’s best, if not the very best.

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Take the Chiefs 4th string LB Leo Chenal for example:

While I suspect the Chiefs would be blitzing more during the suspension of Charles Omenihu, now that he’s back, the question is, will we continue to see that trend for the Chiefs D, and especially their LBs. This “trend” — if you want to call it that — has involved LB Willie Gay as well.

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You might think… “so what, two isn’t a big number” but in terms of stopping a drive, Willie Gay and his 4.46 speed, has been all over the field. While the addition of Drue Tranquill has been a fantastic add for Veach and the Chiefs, the return of Nick Bolton to action last week was big.

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This is Nick Bolton’s third season and along the way he has gotten better and better in pass protection (0:32):

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Although number 4 (above) is true, the Chiefs do have somewhat of a problem stopping the run, but let’s not forget that they are ranked 10th in the league in Run Defense by ESPN and with Charles Omenihu coming back today, the run defense should get a shot in the arm. Enough to catapult them into the top five? I think not, but they should remain in the top ten, even after facing Chargers RB, Austin Ekeler. Also, Nick Bolton was out for a couple of weeks and returned a week ago… with his injury now a distant memory, he should be even better as well.

The Defense has been stellar this season and I seriously doubt they will be a problem in this game. That means, it comes down to the Chiefs Offense vs the Chargers Defense. With the Chargers ranking 31st in the NFL in total Defense, this should give the Chiefs WRs a great chance to see what they can really accomplish.

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DraftKings Sportsbook, says the Chiefs are favored by 5.5 points. While the Chiefs have been known to play some close games during their currently dominating run, I beleive the Chiefs will win this one going away… IOWs, by a larger margin. So, if you are a betting man, I would bet the Chiefs cover the spread in this game by quite a bit.

One of those close games was last year’s game vs the Chargers in Arrowhead when the Bolts QB, Justin Herbert, had driven his team down near the goal line with more than 10 minutes to go in the game, and they were about to score the go ahead TD when… he threw a pick-6 TD to rookie CB Jaylen Watson (0:45):

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This year, the Chiefs won’t need a 4th quarter INT to save the game. Thier defense is now so dominant, that they should be able to leave this Chargers team in the dust. With their star WR, Mike Williams on the IR list and out for the year, because of a a torn ACL, the Chargers should be much easier to cover this year.

Referee Assignment

Tra Blake and his crew have been assigned to the Chargers and Chiefs game today. Here what rickgosselin.com has to say about him:

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“Tra Blake has been a referee for one season

and home teams were 11-5 with his crew last

year for a winning percentage of 68.7.”

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If that holds true, it’s a good sign for K.C..

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Weather

It looks liek fairly ideal weather for the game today. Not only for the game, but for Tailgating as well.

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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