The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the Los Angeles Chargers for the second time this season on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has figured out ways to slow down their offense in the past, including Week 4 of this season, and described the challenge of playing them again 10 weeks later during Thursday’s press conference.
“Well, we did play them (the Chargers) fairly early. I think they’re – and with a new staff and a new team, I think it takes them a while to figure out who they are. I think they have figured that out, and you can see that,” said Spagnuolo. “You can see the thread of what they want to do, what they would like to try to do (and) how they go about winning games. I think they have a great formula. I mean, I have a lot of respect for (Chargers Head Coach) Jim (Harbaugh) and (Chargers Offensive Coordinator) Greg (Roman) with the way they do things.”
The Chargers have been led by quarterback Justin Herbert’s efficient play, throwing only one interception on the season. They will have multiple offensive line players back who were absent in their first matchup due to injury.
“It’s still going to come back to – I mean, when we have a wrinkle that’s a little bit different than the first time – absolutely, we always think that way,” said Spagnuolo. “Can we get into those wrinkles? We’ll see because sometimes they’re dictated by the situation, but I think they’re a little bit different in –I mean, the biggest thing that will be different for us is that when we played them last time, (Chargers QB) Justin (Herbert) had a bum ankle and wasn’t running as much. I mean, he gutted it out in that game. He’s running pretty good now. That in and of itself will be different for us.”
Along with All-Pro Chris Jones, George Karlaftis is coming off a productive outing in the Week 13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, where he collected a sack. He will be another essential member of the defensive line that will look to pressure Herbert and disrupt Los Angeles’ game plan.