What the Chiefs Face in the Chargers

What the Chiefs Face in the Chargers – sometimes when you play a bad game and things don’t go your way — and things did not go the Chiefs way vs the Titans — the only thing you can do is, forget about it and move onto the next game. So, let’s take a look at what the Chiefs face in the Chargers.

The 6-4 Kansas City Chiefs recent history against the 4-6 LA-SD Chargers looks like this:

• • 2018 – in L.A., 38-28 W, and in K.C., 28-29 L
  • 2017 – in L.A., 24-10 W, and in K.C. 30-13 W
  • 2016 – in K.C., 33-27 W (OT), and in S.D., 37-27 W
  • 2015 – in S.D., 33-3 W, and in K.C. 10-3 W
  • 2014 – in S.D., 23-20 W, and in K.C., 19-7 W
  • 2013 – in K.C., 38-41 L, and in S.D., 24-27 L (OT)

Andy Reid’s record against the Chargers (San Diego/Los Angeles) is 9-and-3 since his arrival but he’s also won 9 out of the last 10. You will notice that the Chiefs three losses in the past 6 seasons were by a total of 7 points or an average of 2.3 points per game while the Chiefs victories have been by an average of 12.1 points per win. 

However, none of that really seems to have much to do with this season’s chances. The Chiefs are losers of 4 out of their last 6 and are having problems in the following areas according to Terez Paylor:

1. Fumbles- losing 9 this year (2nd most in the NFL)

2. A sporadic Run Defense

3. Poor Special Teams Play

Paylor made the point this week that if the Chiefs have a problem in more than one of these areas they’ll be in danger of losing but… they had problems with all three in the loss to the Titans… and that’s the reason for the defeat. While the Chiefs have had a time with their Special Teams this season, the Chargers have one of the best STs players in the league:

The Chiefs have had 10 games to get their Special Teams together but there’s still a good chance that Dave Toub will make the necessary changes. He’ll need to, for the Chiefs to have a good showing this coming Monday in Mexico City.

The Chargers are training in the high altitude of Colorado, at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, this week in hopes of getting their players to adjust to the 7,300+ feet of elevation in Mexico City. Since the Chiefs had no problems going to Denver earlier this season, that doesn’t appear to be an issue… but stay tuned.

The biggest problem for the Chiefs offense will be dealing with the Changers tandem rushers: Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Ingram has 4.5 sacks (in 7 games) this season and Bosa has 8.5. Bosa recently said this of Patrick Mahomes, “You just have to contain him.” The Changers will likely use a similar game plan defensively to the one they used vs the Packers when they beat them 26-to-11 two weeks ago and appeared to totally stump Aaron Rodgers, and you know that’s no small feat. However, the Chargers have been equally schizophrenic this season losing to the Raiders 26-to-24 last weekend as well as losing three in a row earlier this year including a loss to the blunder-lustful Broncos, 20-to-13.

The highest graded player on the Chargers by PFF (ProFootball Focus), is no secret: Joey Bosa. Here’s what they say about Bosa:

“89.5 – While his younger brother Nick has stolen some of the spotlight, Joey Bosa is still on pace for a career year in 2019. He enters Week 11 ranked sixth in overall grade (89.5) and fourth in pass-rush grade (90.2) among qualifying edge defenders. His 25.5% pass-rush win rate leads all edge defenders with 150 or more pass-rush snaps, as well.”

While Bosa has been the top rated Chargers player, Tyreek Hill has been the top ranked Chiefs player:

“90.6 – Hill has returned from injury and taken over the NFL. He leads all receivers with 150 or more routes run in PFF receiving grade (91.0) and yards per route run (3.05). He’s also logged eight forced missed tackles and 10 receptions of 15 or more yards.”

While the Chargers will be hoping to get to Mahomes, the Chiefs game plan will consequently be filled with quick hitters. If LT Eric Fisher and RT Mitchell Schwartz are not 100% by then, that approach will be a mandate.

On defense, the Chiefs must once again re-focus on stopping the run. My inclination was right about the Titans when I thought the Chiefs D might have a problem handling a larger back like Derrick Henry but with the Chargers duo of Melvin Gordon (6-foot-1, 215) and Austin Ekler (5-foot-10, 200) should prove manageable.

Last year, in the Chiefs late season loss to the Chargers, Philip Rivers took advantage of a missed coverage and he hit their open WR in the end zone. While the Chiefs have had some of those same problems this year, their man coverage is much superior to last year and the Chiefs Safety play is improved.

USAToday says the Chiefs are favorites this coming Monday in Mexico City:.

“The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) will play the Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Monday night in Week 11. According to BetMGM, the Chiefs are 4.5-point favorites heading into Monday night’s game.”

Being favorites doesn’t guarantee anything, especially this season. …

The OL began the year as a strong suit, but injuries have decimated the group and consequently their consistency. In the game against the Titans, the Chiefs suffered more injuries along the OL. That’s a huge escalating concern. It’s enough to know that the only OL who has played every snap this season is Center Austin Reiter and what bizarre about that is: he’s been the Chiefs least proficient starting offensive lineman in 2019. HC Andy Reid has stated that if enough OL go down with an injury, he’ll slide a DE in to take their place. That’s not a good sign. Martinas Rankin, who came over from the Texans in the trade for Carlos Hyde, is now on IR and done for the year. so, GM Brett Veach signed OL Jackson Barton to take his place on the roster:

However, Jackson should not be considered an actual replacement so much as a depth lineman (any other time of the year and he’d be called a camp body). Which means Nick Allegretti will have to step up and in when needed… and Stefen Wisniewski will preceded him on the list of OL who will have to serve and protect the franchise icon, Patrick Mahomes.

It’s time to move on from the loss to the Titans but my one reflection is, that I’m hoping the Chiefs will not make all the mistakes they made in one game… anytime again this year. The dropped passes stick with me most, but there are so many other aspects of that game which, if fixed, brings a victory instead of the awful defeat that it was.

The Chargers have a history of winning late in the season and have gone 6-2 in the last two month of the year, in each of their past two seasons. Will that same pattern hold true?

The Chiefs are faced with the prospect of losing this game and consequently their hold on the AFC West lead. Andy Reid has traditionally had his way with AFC West opponents and this game is critical to the Chiefs chances for a title this season. The time is now.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne