Week 15 Chiefs Host Chargers: OPEN THREAD

Week 15 Chiefs Host Chargers:

OPEN THREAD

by Laddie Morse | December 13, 2018

The popular take on this game is that it is for the AFC West crown. Believe me that’s not what the coaches are telling their teams. However, even the coaches may get this one wrong. While Chargers’ head coach Anthony Lynn is likely telling his troops that this is the biggest game of the year… and while Andy Reid knows that this is likely the biggest game of his tenure as the Chiefs HC… the reality is that for the Chargers this is their Super Bowl… and for the Chiefs this is the biggest game the organization has been involved in since they last went to a Super Bowl nearly 5 decades ago.

If the Chargers win: they can sit at home the first week of the playoffs… if the New England Patriots lose in Pittsburgh this Sunday (and there’s a good chance ot that happening). A win by the Chargers would also force the Chiefs to win-out to maintain the upper hand in the race for the first cede in the AFC but also means the Chiefs won’t be able to rest their starters in either weeks 16 or 17 prior to the playoffs.

If the Chiefs win: several advantages kick in, like,

• resting the starters in weeks 16 & 17 and players recuperating in their homes during the 1st round of the playoffs,
• Offensvie Coordinator Eric Bieniemy can get some experience calling plays,
• Andy Reid can begin to prepare a game plan prior to week 17 for the Chiefs first playoff game (and we all know how good a Reid-led team can be when Reid has extra time to prepare),
• Chiefs players gain the much needed confidence of being undisputedly the best team in the AFC,
• helping to establish the Chiefs as one of the “routinely” dominant teams of the AFC.

While this may well be the biggest game for the organization in the history of Arrowhead Stadium — because Arrowhead was built after the Chiefs last Super Bowl appearance in January of 1970 — it is also only the Chiefs biggest game since last Sunday. That’s because every game the Chiefs play right now gets bigger and bigger with this one being the biggest. After this (assuming they win), things get easier for two weeks.

Before the season started, so many prognosticators, and their grandmother’s goldfish, all said that the hardest part of the schedule was the first 6 games (including moi). However, the ascendance of the Chargers, Seahawks, and Ravens has made the tail end of the Chiefs schedule no less difficult. 

A more centered and authentic take on the importance of the game, at least to the Chiefs players, is that it’s just the next game on the schedule… because that’s exactly what they’re taught in how to approach each game. For fans, we want to know that the 2018 team is becoming the next big thing… the next perennial contender… the next team that forces all division championships to got through our city. A win today, could go a long way towards accomplishing that objective… at least in the eyes of Chiefs fans.

The challenge of facing the Chargers — even though the Chiefs have beat them nine straight times — begins with Philip Rivers. The challenge of facing the Chargers used to begin and end with RIvers but now their defense offers one of the top three pass rushing duos in the NFL: Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Also, you can’t talk about the success of the Chargers defense now without mentioning rookie sensation: Derwin James. James is 6-foot-2 and goes 215 with 4.47 speed but his production in his first season is outstanding, leading the team in both tackles, with 88, and interceptions, with 3.

The challenge of facing the Chiefs for the Chargers starts with Patrick Mahomes. In fact, Mahomes will be going up against the Chargers Defensive Coordinator more than anyone else on the team. This past Sunday the Ravens DC threw so many looks at Mahomes that he probably thought it was Halloween. Lots of looks (masks), and it was scary. You can be sure that Gus  Bradley, the Chargers DC, was paying attention to how the Ravens were attacking Mahomes. However, the Ravens had the best defense in the league and Patrick Mahomes still threw for 377 yards with 2 TDs so he should do well tonight.

The challenge for the Chiefs defense may be diminished because the Chargers could be missing a few key pieces:

Also, it’s increasingly likely that starting running back Melvin Gordon will not play and even if he does, may not be as effective as he normally is:

I hate to see anyone hurt or missing when the Chiefs play… that includes players lining up on either side of the line of scrimmage. However, if both running backs Gordon and Ekeler are no-go tonight, it’s… Advantage Chiefs. What it also means is that Philip Rivers will be throwing the ball around the yard more than he normally does… and that may be a good thing for the Chargers. Rivers has thrown for 3,638 yards this year with 29 TDs and only 6 INTs. The Chargers are coming off of a 3 game winning streak and winning 9 of their last 10 games, and Rivers is a huge part of the reason why. Another big reason for the Chargers run of success is WR Keenan Allen who has 1,074 receiving yards so far this year. If the Chiefs can double Allen and force Rivers to go to his other receivers it will be another… Advantage Chiefs. In that case, Rivers may have to hold the ball longer than he usually does and if that becomes tha case, it’ll give Dee Ford — who usually plays well against the Bolts — Chris Jones, and Justin Houston time to tee off on Rivers. I’m not going into any depth on Eric Berry’s impact here because I think it will be minimal in this game. It’s just good to see him on the field and getting back into game shape.

Weather Report

You may have heard that there is going to be some rain this afternoon. So, let’s take a look:

As you can see, the Rain forecasted is scheduled to end around 3PM this afternoon. So, the field should be in good condition tonight.

The Chiefs are often able to get Philip Rivers flustered and frustrated and that been part of the reason for the 9 game winning trend. I that happens tonight? It’s lights out for the Chargers. My Prediction?

Chiefs 35, Chargers 24

Laddie Morse – ArrowheadOne

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