Kansas City @ Los Angeles preview
Dignity Health Sports Park
Last Meeting ( Dec 16, 2017 ) L.A. Chargers 13, Kansas City 30
The Kansas City Chiefs begin their quest for a third consecutive AFC West title with a road game against one of their most likely challengers in the division. The Chiefs on Sunday will try for their ninth consecutive win against the Los Angeles Chargers, who last season pushed Kansas City until the final week.
One constant during Kansas City's recent dominance over the Chargers has been under center, where second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes the reins after veteran Alex Smith was traded to Washington in the offseason. Mahomes made his first start in Week 17 last year and passed for 284 yards in what ultimately was a meaningless game, but the stakes will be higher this time. “I haven’t seen anything that would tell you he’s nervous,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters. “He is a pretty confident kid in his ability, and I think he just wants to get going and play the game.” Los Angeles still has Philip Rivers at the helm of an offense that led the league in passing a year ago but posted two of its five lowest-yardage outputs in its two meetings with the Chiefs.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chargers -3.5. O/U: 48
ABOUT THE CHIEFS (2017: 10-6, 1ST IN AFC WEST): Mahomes takes over an offense that includes Kareem Hunt, the NFL’s leading rusher last season with 1,327 yards. He also has a reliable target in Travis Kelce, who led all tight ends with 83 receptions for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017, and a couple of dangerous receivers in speedster Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins. The defense was one of the most porous in the league last year but also forced 26 turnovers as the Chiefs ranked second in the league with a plus-15 margin.
ABOUT THE CHARGERS (2017: 9-7, 2ND IN AFC WEST): After throwing a career-high 21 interceptions in 2016, Rivers was picked only 10 times last season while passing for 4,515 yards and 28 touchdowns. His favorite target returns in Keenan Allen, who hauled in 102 passes for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns last year, as does running back Melvin Gordon, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. The defense ranked third in the league in points allowed last season and is led by two dynamic pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who combined for 23 sacks in 2017.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Chiefs LB Justin Houston has registered six sacks in his last five games against San Diego.
2. Ingram has notched four sacks in his last two meetings with Kansas City.
3. Kansas City S Eric Berry has not practiced since Aug. 11 due to a heel injury and is listed as questionable.
PREDICTION: Chargers 27, Chiefs 23