Tag: Chargers

Key takeaways from first half of Chiefs vs. Chargers

These things stood out in the first half of the contest between the Chiefs and Chargers.

Most fans will tell you that this has been a strange game so far.

Everyone expected both teams to come out and execute at a high level on offense but mistakes have plagued both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Estadio Azteca field is falling apart on the players as they play on it, which is very uncharacteristic of an NFL quality playing surface. The scoring is extremely low with less than 20 points between the two teams and the Chiefs leading at halftime by a score of 10-9.

Here are some key takeaways from the first half of play:

Lack of offensive execution

This looked to be the first game where the Chiefs had their full complement of offensive personnel at their disposal. Unfortunately, the offense just hasn’t done a good job executing in the early goings of the game.

Mahomes has been unable to get anything going in the passing game. He completed just two passes in the first quarter and then his star wide receiver Tyreek Hill left the game with an injury. Hill’s absence has seemingly changed the gameplan for the Chiefs, but even before then they were struggling to find any consistency.

Mahomes even forced a deep ball and threw an uncharacteristic interception. That alone should tell you how out of sync the Kansas City offense has been so far in this game.

Defense stepping up

The story of the first half has been the opportunistic Chiefs defense. They’ve still struggled to stop the run and running backs in the passing game, but they’ve been forcing mistakes from Chargers QB Philip Rivers.

Kansas City forced two interceptions in the first half of the game. One came because of pressure from DE Frank Clark. He swatted Rivers’ hand and the ball came out funny and landed in the waiting arms of DT Derrick Nnadi. The offense was unable to capitalize on this one.

However, the next interception was just some great ball-hawking from safety Tyrann Mathieu. The following play LeSean McCoy got a carry and took it for a touchdown to give the Chiefs their first lead of the game. If the Chiefs can keep forcing turnovers they’ll definitely have an opportunity to come away with a win in Week 11.

Special teams still concerning

Special teams has really been no good for the Chiefs this season. It’s to the point where Dave Toub can’t defend how poorly they’ve executed at times. This game hasn’t exactly restored anyone’s faith in the Chiefs’ special teams.

Chris Jones had a post field goal attempt penalty that cost the Chiefs yardage. Later, the punt coverage unit had an opportunity to come up with a muffed punt and they just failed to capitalize even though they had four players in the area.

It just seems like mental mistakes are continuing to compound each other and cost the team valuable opportunities. At some point, it’ll come back and cost the Chiefs more than yardage or possessions in a game.

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill questionable to return vs. Chargers after suffering hamstring injury

Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill is questionable to return to the game.

Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill came off the field hobbled following the first offensive series for the team.

Hill limped off the field and immediately went to the Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder. He spent a short time on the training table where they worked on his hamstring a bit. He briefly returned to the bench before getting more treatment from Burkholder.

After some conversation with the training staff, Hill walked to the locker room unassisted. That at least tells you it isn’t serious because he didn’t need the cart. Shortly afterward, Hill was ruled questionable to return with a hamstring injury.

It’s entirely possible that Hill went back to the locker room to receive IV fluids for cramping. His injury on the field was non-contact and didn’t appear to occur during the play. After the play, he took a few paces and he clutched at his hamstring before hobbling off the field. That suggests that this could simply be a cramp and that Hill could return to the game. The Chiefs had made it a point to emphasize hydration and extra rest because of the elevation difference in Mexico City. It appears that might have not been enough for the Chiefs’ speedster.

At the same time, this could be a pulled muscle, which potentially wouldn’t allow for Hill to return to the game. We’ll just have to wait and see if he can manage his way back on the field anytime soon.

WATCH: Chiefs K Harrison Butker nails 71-yard kick in pregame warmups

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker did WHAT during pregame warmups?

Kansas City Chiefs K Harrison Butker has a big leg, but it could be aided tonight by the thin air in Mexico City.

The elevation at Estadio Azteca is 7,200 feet above sea-level. It doesn’t just have an impact on the passing game, but it also helps out with the kicking game. While many are marveling over Patrick Mahomes’ ability to throw it 75 yards with ease in Mexico City, Butker has done something even more special during pregame warmups.

Ahead of the Week 11 game between the Chiefs and Chargers, Butker trotted out on the field for some practice kicks as usual. He practiced PATs, short field goals, medium field goals and then he just kept backing up. Before you know it, Butker was lining up a kick from 71 yards out. By all accounts, he nailed it. Check it out:

The NFL record for field goal distance is 64 yards set by Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater in 2013. The game happened in Denver, which is also known for its elevation advantage.

It’s not likely that Butker will have a chance to defeat the NFL record in this game, but it’s good to know that he has the leg and accuracy to make a long kick if pressed into the situation. That kick would have set a new record and added 7 yards to the longest kick in NFL history had it occurred during the game.

Chiefs vs. Chargers Week 11: Live tweets and scoring updates

Follow along as Chiefs Wire staff and other media members tweet throughout the eleventh Chiefs game of the 2019 season.

It’s another week of Kansas City Chiefs football!

Kickoff is coming up at 7:15 p.m. CT as the Chiefs face the Chargers in Week 11 of the 2019 NFL season. You can find all the important details about how to watch the game and more here.

Looking for live scoring updates? We’ll update those in the chart below.

Chiefs vs. Chargers score

Quarter Chiefs Chargers
First 0 3
Second 10 9
Third 24 17
Fourth 24 17
Final 24 17

53-man player guide

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Follow along as the Chiefs Wire staff and other media members tweet during the game. Get the absolute latest updates on our twitter list down below.

https://twitter.com/TheChiefsWire/lists/chiefs-gameday

Chiefs’ 2019 schedule

Week Opponent Time (CT) | Date  Channel
1 at Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 8th CBS
2 at Oakland Raiders 3:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 29th CBS
3 vs. Baltimore Ravens 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 22nd CBS
4 at Detroit Lions 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 29th FOX
5 vs. Indianapolis Colts 7:20 p.m. Sun, Oct. 6th NBC
6 vs. Houston Texans 12:00 p.m. Sun, Oct 13th CBS
7 at Denver Broncos 7:20 p.m. Thu, Oct 17th FOX/NFLN/Amazon
8 vs. Green Bay Packers 7:20 p.m. Sun, Oct. 27th NBC
9 vs. Minnesota Vikings 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 3rd FOX
10 at Tennessee Titans 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 10th CBS
11 at Los Angeles Chargers (Mexico City) 7:15 p.m. Mon, Nov. 18th ESPN
12 BYE BYE  BYE
13 vs. Oakland Raiders 3:25 p.m. Sun, Dec. 1st CBS
14 at New Englands Patriots 3:25 p.m. Sun, Dec. 8th CBS
15 vs. Denver Broncos 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 15th CBS
16 at Chicago Bears 7:20 p.m. Sun, Dec. 22nd NBC
17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 29th CBS

 

Inactives for Chiefs vs. Chargers, Week 11

These players will be inactive for the Kansas City Chiefs Week 11 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs have released their inactive list for their Week 11 Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Here are the inactive players for the Chiefs:

– DE Alex Okafor
– CB Kendall Fuller
– RB Darwin Thompson
– TE Blake Bell
– QB Chad Henne
– OL Jackson Barton
– OL Nick Allegretti

Here is the Chargers inactive list:

– OL Russel Okung
– WR Geremy Davis
– RB Justin Jackson
– OL Sam Tevi
– QB Easton Stick
– LB Drue Tranquill
– DL T.Y. McGill Jr.

The Chiefs will have all five starting offensive linemen in this game for the first time since Week 1. Eric Fisher is returning from a groin injury that has kept him out of action for the last eight weeks and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returns from an ankle injury he suffered in Week 8.

Okafor is still dealing with an ankle injury and will miss this game, but could have a shot to return in two weeks after the bye. Fuller did participate in practice this week but was downgraded to a limited participant on Friday and will miss this game. He also has a shot to return after the bye week.

As for the Chargers, they will be without starting left tackle Russel Okung. This leaves them with just one starter along their offensive line and four backups. Look for Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to bring a lot of pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers tonight.

Keys to a Chiefs victory over Chargers in Week 11

How do the Kansas City Chiefs come away with a win against the Los Angeles in Week 11?

Monday night will be the biggest divisional game for the Chiefs in a long time.

This season has been bumpier than expected for Kansas City, but there is still plenty to be optimistic about. The Chiefs will play in Mexico City with all five starting offensive linemen for the first time since Week 2, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is healthy again. The Chiefs defense, though still with issues, is an improved unit from 2018.

The 4-6 Los Angeles Chargers are fighting for their playoff lives. They have talent across the board, but injuries have ravaged their season like so many times before. Quarterback Philip Rivers also appears to be on his last legs and it is becoming more difficult for him to shoulder the load.

Here are the keys to a Chiefs victory before they head into their bye week:

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Improve red zone efficiency

The Chiefs’ offense is still an elite unit (No. 3 in the NFL), but the one area it is struggling in is scoring touchdowns in the red zone. Last season, the Chiefs scored red zone TDs 73 percent of the time, second-best in the NFL. This season they rank 26th, scoring TDs on just 47 percent of their trips to the red zone.

The Chiefs are settling for too many field goals, which is keeping their opponents in the game. With six games still to go, kicker Harrison Butker has already matched his number of field goal attempts from last season.

With Mahomes at QB and one of the best skill position groups in the NFL, there’s no reason for K.C. to be struggling to score TDs. The offensive line returning to full health might help.

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Behind Enemy Lines: 5 questions with Chargers Wire for Week 11

We go behind enemy lines to ask questions about the Kansas City Chiefs’ upcoming opponent in Week 11.

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting ready to face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11 in Mexico City, hoping to get a win against an AFC West rival.

To learn more about Kansas City’s opponent, we spoke with managing editor Gavino Borquez over at Chargers Wire and asked him a few questions.

Chiefs Wire: Philip Rivers is 37 years old and in the final season of his contract. Do you get the sense this might be his last hurrah with the Chargers?

Chargers Wire: In 2018, Rivers had one of the most productive seasons in his professional career. However, he hasn’t been able to match that in 2019. Rivers leads the league in passing yards, but he has tied for the second-most interceptions thrown. Inconsistency along the offensive line is to blame for his woes, but there are obvious signs of regression — poor decision-making and lack of arm talent. Rivers, who’s turning 38 in December, will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and this could mark the last time he will be in a Chargers uniform. Whether he’s considering retiring or playing another season or two with another team, there’s a sense that the team wants to start fresh with their future signal-caller when they move into their new stadium with the Rams in Inglewood, Calif. Not to mention, Los Angeles has a lot of decisions to make when it comes to re-signing some of their premier players within the next couple of seasons, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they use that money that could be used on Rivers elsewhere.

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Report: Chiefs RB Damien Williams rejoined team ahead of Mexico City trip

Kansas City Chiefs RB Damien Williams should be available to play Week 11’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Kansas City Chiefs RB Damien Williams did not practice on Friday and Saturday ahead of Week 11. Williams was excused from those practices for personal reasons related to his family. When the final injury report came out on Friday he was listed as questionable. At first, there was at least some concern that he might be unable to rejoin the team in time to travel to Mexico City. Now those concerns have been alleviated.

A recent report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has revealed that Williams was able to rejoin the team in time to make the trip to Mexico City with his teammates.

Williams should be available to play for Kansas City on Monday night after rejoining the team, but there are still questions at the running back position that aren’t related to this situation.

Last week against the Titans, LeSean McCoy was made inactive and Williams got the start at running back. Following the game, Andy Reid cited McCoy’s age and workload for the decision to make him inactive. Many suspected this might actually be a tactic to motivate McCoy after some sloppy play, including a pair of costly fumbles. During the Titans game, Williams caught whatever McCoy was dealing with. Williams had a fumble on a play where he missed a massive cutback lane and the fumble was recovered and returned for a touchdown.

There’s truly no telling who will get the start at running back for the Chiefs this week. But I wouldn’t put it past the team to go back to the hot hand approach.

Chiefs vs. Chargers Week 11: Important details, TV schedule and how to stream online

Everything you need to know about the Chiefs matchup vs. the Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) play the Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico on Monday

This game will determine whether the Chiefs remain atop the AFC West or drop a half-game behind the Raiders. It’s a must-win affair for both Kansas City and Los Angeles with postseason hopes on the line. Who will emerge victoriously? Be sure to tune in and find out!

Below are important game details about this regular-season matchup. If you have questions about the game, reach out to us on Twitter @TheChiefsWire.

Game information:

Who: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers

When: Monday, November 18th,  7:15 p.m. CT.

Where: Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico

Streaming:

Live stream: fuboTV (try it for free)

Television channels:

  • ESPN

Broadcasters:

Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters

Referee:

Brad Allen

Radio:

101.1 FM (Kansas City)

Opponent wire site:

Chargers Wire

Chiefs’ 2019 schedule

Week Opponent Time (CT) | Date  Channel
1 at Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 8th CBS
2 at Oakland Raiders 3:05 p.m. Sun, Sept. 29th CBS
3 vs. Baltimore Ravens 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 22nd CBS
4 at Detroit Lions 12:00 p.m. Sun, Sept. 29th FOX
5 vs. Indianapolis Colts 7:20 p.m. Sun, Oct. 6th NBC
6 vs. Houston Texans 12:00 p.m. Sun, Oct 13th CBS
7 at Denver Broncos 7:20 p.m. Thu, Oct 17th FOX/NFLN/Amazon
8 vs. Green Bay Packers 7:20 p.m. Sun, Oct. 27th NBC
9 vs. Minnesota Vikings 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 3rd FOX
10 at Tennessee Titans 12:00 p.m. Sun, Nov. 10th CBS
11 at Los Angeles Chargers (Mexico City) 7:15 p.m. Mon, Nov. 18th ESPN
12 BYE BYE  BYE
13 vs. Oakland Raiders 3:25 p.m. Sun, Dec. 1st CBS
14 at New Englands Patriots 3:25 p.m. Sun, Dec. 8th CBS
15 vs. Denver Broncos 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 15th CBS
16 at Chicago Bears 7:20 p.m. Sun, Dec. 22nd NBC
17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers 12:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 29th CBS

Chiefs 53-man roster

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Week 11 preview: 5 things to watch for in Chiefs vs. Chargers

Keep an eye on these five things as the Kansas City Chiefs face the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11.

The Kansas City Chiefs look to get back on track against the Los Angeles Chargers on the international stage for “Monday Night Football.” This is one of the most important games of the season as the Chiefs are not only fighting for playoff position but also the AFC West title.

Here are five things to watch for in Chiefs vs. Chargers:

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs’ offensive line

The line will be getting back two big pieces this week: Eric Fisher and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. The return of those two is huge for Kansas City because the offensive line has struggled to keep the quarterback clean for the majority of the season. The two will be a big improvement over the replacements they had at their respective positions.

The return of Fisher and Duvernay-Tardif also comes at the perfect time since the Chiefs suffered more injuries last week against the Titans. At one point they were down to their final five linemen during the game. They would have needed to play a tight end along the offensive line had they suffered another injury.

Thankfully, Mitchell Schwartz is expected to play against Monday after suffering an injury during Week 10. This will be the first time the Chiefs will have all five of their starting linemen since Week 2, so it will be interesting to see how much better the offense performs. Now that everyone is healthy we may finally see how good the offense can be. If everyone continues to stay healthy, especially along the offensive line, the end of the season has the potential to be very fun for Chiefs fans.

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