I’m not sure if this game qualifies as a trap game because when you’re as talented as the Kansas City Chiefs with an unbeaten record, even though it’s only 2-and-0, every team is going to shoot to knock you off. While I have been as giddy as the next fan about the Chiefs solid start there are those who are not quite ready to usher them into the NFL throne room. ESPN has four writers out of eleven who are taking the L.A. Chargers in this game. Two out of eight CBSSports.com writers are picking he Chargers. While the normally contrary Elliot Harrison of nfl.com has selected the Chiefs, and that’s nice and all, it’s a dangerous game simply because all the Chiefs games are dangerous at this point.
This game should be interesting to watch… if you like players who can rush the passer. The Chiefs will be bringing Justin Houston and Dee Ford while the Chargers have quite a pair of sack artists of their own in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. JH has 3 sacks and DF has 1. For the Bolts JB has 1.5 sacks and MI has 2.5. So, it’s a 4-to-4 ties from now.
Normally, you’d expect the home team’s crowd to give them an advantage but that’s not going to be the case for the Chargers in 2017. Not unless they go on a huge winning streak which doesn’t look likely. Last week, in the Bolts home opener — their first regular season game at home in front of the Los Angeles crowd — the Miami Dolphin fans reportedly flooded the stadium. In reality is was about an even split in terms of Changer fans and Dolphin followers… but you’d be hard pressed to find an NFL game in which that has ever happened before. This week? Well, Kansas City Chiefs fans have been projected to “take over the stadium.” If that happens, any advantage that playing at home would give Philip Rivers and this mates if gone and out the door… and home-field advantage could easily be flipped.
When Kansas City has the ball: it looks like the absence of CB Jason Verrett and LB Denzel Perryman makes the Chargers defense vulnerable to everything except passes that take more than 5 seconds to exit Alex Smith’s hand. Consequently, you can expect to see a similar game plan as when the Chiefs play the Denver defense… short quick passes and jet sweeps (John Dillman should be thrilled in this game). Tyreek Hill should be a larger part of the offense than he was against the Eagles. Kareem Hunt should have some success there as well and if Andy Reid keeps the play calling varied like he has in the first two weeks and can keep the Bolts guessing, more offensive players should be involved in this one and each of them should perform well because it’s hard to say where the resistance is going to come from.
When Los Angeles has the ball: Philip River will have success throwing the ball to his future Hall of Fame Tight End Antonio Gates and Keenan Allen. Gates won’t have Eric Berry to deal with and Allen was doing well against Marcus Peters last year until he went out with an injury. RB Melvin Gordon had a bad rookie year two years ago then came back strong last season with 1,416 yards rushing and receiving combined. This year? Not so good. He has 79 total rushing and receiving yards together. Back to Rivers. If he can maintain his composure and keep slinging the ball, he should have some success. However, “some” will probably not be enough against the Chiefs… not this year.
Special teams: I’ve heard that there are only six NFL teams with a worse punt return unit so far this season. That may mean that Tyreek Hill will be giving the Peace-sign again. Also, the Bolts rookie kicker, Younghoe Koo, has already proved to be a liability by missing a possible game winner so if it comes down to field goals I’m going with Cairo Santos.
My prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 20
What do you predict?
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