The Los Angeles Chargers (8-5) and Kansas City Chiefs (9-4) are about to duke it out in a divisional showdown on Thursday night.
Prior to the matchup, Chiefs Wire managing editor Charles Goldman spoke with us on Los Angeles’ opponent.
Why isn’t Patrick Mahomes playing near the same caliber as the past two seasons?
This whole thing about Patrick Mahomes not playing well is a myth created by the fact that he was a football alien for his first three seasons in the league. Mahomes is fifth in the NFL in passing yards, fifth in passing touchdowns and there are four weeks left in the regular season. Sure, he’s thrown more interceptions than any season in his career, but he’s had some sour luck there. Over half of his interceptions hit one of his own players before they were intercepted, and while he’s shouldered the blame for that, there’s something to be said about the lack of execution on the part of his receivers. He’s made plenty of the highlight-reel freaky throws that he’s been known for in recent weeks, which tells me he’s getting a bit more comfortable and confident in this version of the Kansas City offense.
What changes were made to make the defense such a threat?
It’s really a culmination of things. First off, the team is much healthier. Even with the absences that Kansas City will have in this game, they’ll have a healthy Frank Clark, Charvarius Ward, and Juan Thornhill, which they didn’t have back in Week 3. Then, they’ve got some new pieces who have found their footing in the new scheme. Guys like Jarran Reed, Mike Hughes and rookie LB Nick Bolton are all playing way better than they did earlier this season. Credit to Steve Spagnuolo and the coaching staff too, because they’ve done a good job of identifying what this group is best at and doing that often. Then, there’s the player the team added in trade that Chargers fans are all too familiar with…
How is Melvin Ingram doing with the Chiefs?
Incredible? I’ll stop short of calling him the team’s best defender, but his addition was certainly the catalyst for this defensive turnaround for Kansas City. His addition allowed the team to play Chris Jones at defensive tackle, where he thrives, as opposed to playing edge rusher. Beyond that, Ingram has just picked up things really quickly and contributed in a big way in both the run game and the passing game. I think he’s helped with the development of some younger players too. Guys like Mike Danna and Turk Wharton have really taken a liking to Ingram and stepped their game up as a result.
How big of a deal are the losses of Chris Jones, L’Jarius Sneed, and Willie Gay?
Chris Jones and Willie Gay Jr. are massive, but the secondary is deep enough that it should be able to handle the loss of L’Jarius Sneed. He missed Week 14 against the Raiders to go home after the tragic death of his oldest brother. Tyrann Mathieu played a lot more slot corner and Mike Hughes played on the outside opposite Charvarius Ward as a result. Hughes won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. But Jones and Gay, those are losses that Kansas City won’t be able to so easily replace. Next to Aaron Donald, there’s no player in the NFL as disruptive on the defensive interior as Jones. He has notched 6.5 pressures per game during the Chiefs’ six-game win streak. As for Gay, he’s the best athlete the team has at the linebacker position. Keep in mind, both Jones and Gay didn’t play when these teams face off back in Week 3 either, so relative to the last time they played, it’s pretty much status quo for Kansas City.
Have any players stepped up since the last time the two teams met that the Chargers should be wary of?
On defense, with Rashawn Slater out, Frank Clark is going to be someone to watch. As I mentioned earlier, he didn’t play in Week 3. He’s been playing some of the best football of his Chiefs career lately, especially when it comes to rushing the passer. He’s averaging over 4.5 pressures per game over the last six games. On offense, I wouldn’t be shocked if the team gave Derrick Gore some carries this week. Gore, of course, spent two stints on the Los Angeles practice squad and has emerged as the No. 3 back in Kansas City lately. He scored a 51-yard touchdown against the Raiders’ starters in Week 14.
Who wins?
I’m much less confident in KC given their absences on the defensive side of the ball. That said, it’s a short week and it’s tough to beat a team twice in a season. I think the Chiefs fend off the Chargers this time around, but it’ll be the first time they’ve allowed over nine points on defense in the past three weeks. Chiefs 31, Chargers 23.