Week 2 will be the Kansas City Chiefs’ home opener as they host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.
The Chiefs and Chargers split their 2021 season series with both teams losing on their home turf. Kansas City won its seventh-straight AFC West title and Los Angeles finished third in the division at 9-8, barely missing the playoffs. The Chargers have responded to their disappointing 2021 campaign by having a very active offseason.
They wasted no time in giving receiver Mike Williams a three-year $60 million contract extension. Following that move, the Chargers bolstered their defense by trading for linebacker Khalil Mack and signing defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson. They didn’t stop there as they also signed all-pro cornerback J.C. Jackson a big five-year $82.5 million contract.
Los Angeles is loaded on both sides of the ball and has set itself up to be all-in on a Super Bowl run for the next few years. However, the Chargers have been a snake-bitten franchise and have come up short despite some impressive rosters over the years. A lot will be riding on the shoulders of second-year head coach Brandon Staley, who’s situational play calling was at the center of controversy a few times last season.
Let’s take a look at some of the Chargers’ key players and their outlooks heading into the regular season: