Behind Enemy Lines: 5 questions with Chiefs Wire

Chiefs Wire’s Charles Goldman spoke with Chargers Wire and delivered five things to look for in the Monday night matchup.

The Los Angeles Chargers (4-6) and Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) are about to take the national stage on Monday night.

Prior to the matchup, Chiefs Wire managing editor Charles Goldman spoke with us on Los Angeles’ opponent.

Here’s a look at five things to expect:

1. How do the Chargers slow down the big playmaking ability of Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman?

The Chargers should hope that somehow they don’t make it on the plane to Mexico City. Really, with the Chiefs offense, you have to decide which playmaker you’re going to try and take away. It was a tough choice last season when you had Hill, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce to worry about. Now you’ve got Hardman in the mix, and don’t sleep on Demarcus Robinson because he might have some of the best chemistry with Mahomes of any of these receiving threats.

2. Will Patrick Mahomes’ knee be a concern for him, or is he back to full health?

Mahomes was pretty adamant this week that this is the healthiest he’s felt since Week 1 of the regular season. Remember, he also dealt with an ankle sprain earlier in the season before the kneecap dislocation. Both of those injuries shouldn’t be a problem for him moving forward or limit him from doing what he does. He had one of the best games of his career against the Titans in Week 10 despite the loss. I wouldn’t expect to see Andy Reid call a QB sneak with Mahomes anytime soon, though.

3. What area/position of the Chiefs could determine the outcome of this game?

The linebackers and the run defense. It’s been the most easily exploitable part of the Chiefs’ defense this season. They did sort of come alive a bit during the two weeks that Mahomes was out with injury. As recently as Week 10, they looked like the same unit that failed to impress early in the season. Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler are as talented a duo as they’ve faced in 2019. The Chargers could do some damage running the ball and motioning out wide, forcing man-coverage matchups against the Chiefs’ LB corps.

4. Who is an under-the-radar Chief that Chargers fans should know about?

Rookie defensive back Juan Thornhill is one that I’d pay attention to this week. He plays the deep safety role for the Chiefs and he’s been quietly impressive this season. He has really nice range from the centerfield spot. When he’s in a man coverage situation, he hasn’t given up much in terms of yardage per coverage snap. Given how much Philip Rivers likes to throw the deep ball, you might be hearing Thornhill’s name called quite a bit on Monday night.

5. Score predicition?

Ahead of the season, I had this game circled as one that I thought Kansas City could struggle in. I thought that Los Angeles wouldn’t be 4-6 right now. Historically, the big prime-time games haven’t been too kind to the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs. I’m feeling like things will be different this time around, though. This is shaping up to be the first time since Week 1 that the Chiefs have all of their starters on offense healthy across the board. If the Chiefs’ defense can manage to contain Ekeler and Gordon, that’d also boost their chances at a win. It’s easier said than done for Kansas City. They can’t seem to decide the type of team they want to be on defense. Chiefs 34, Chargers 20

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Offensive and defensive players to watch in Chiefs vs. Chargers

We’ll be keeping an eye on these two Kansas City Chiefs players as they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

The Kansas City Chiefs need a bounce-back win after a disappointing loss to the Tennessee Titans last week.

Beating the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night will go a long way in the Chiefs’ quest for a fourth-straight AFC West division title. It would keep them undefeated within the division and give them a win over each AFC West team.

K.C. is nearing full health after suffering multiple key injuries throughout the season and has a chance to pull it all together to go on a late-season run. The Chargers, meanwhile, are in desperation mode to keep their postseason chances alive.

Let’s take a look at one player on each side of the ball who can help the Chiefs knock off L.A.

Offense: TE Travis Kelce

Kelce is making acase to be a first-team All-Pro for the third time. He leads all tight ends in receiving yards (741) and is tied for first in receptions (56). He needs just 23 more receiving yards this season to reach 450 receptions and 6,000 yards faster than any other tight end in NFL history.

The Chargers have had success against Kelce in the past, holding him to just one reception in two separate games. He will certainly be a focal point for the Chargers’ defense, but the Chiefs’ dynamic receiving corps should open things up for him. K.C. is 5-1 this season when Kelce catches at least six passes.

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4 Chiefs players the Chargers must game-plan for in Week 11

The Chiefs are a talented team, but Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez lays out who the Chargers must really hone in on.

The Chargers are looking to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the Chiefs are looking to get back on track after losing their last four of six games in Week 11 of the regular season.

With an enticing division battle set for Monday night, here are four Chiefs players that the Bolts have to game-plan for if they wish to come away with a victory.

QB Patrick Mahomes

It didn’t take long for Mahomes to establish himself as one of the best players in the league. After a season that resulted in winning the league’s most valuable player, he continues to take the league by storm. In eight games played, Mahomes has thrown for 2,628 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and only one interception.

The former Texas Tech product missed two games with a knee injury, but he quickly recovered and nearly put up a career-high game against the Titans, passing for 446 yards.

Mahomes can beat you in a multitude of ways, whether it be with his cannon of an arm or with his legs to evade the pocket. The Chargers will need to pressure him early and often, not only with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, but additional pass rushers off the edge to make him feel uncomfortable and to keep him off the field.

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Who was emergency OL for Chiefs in Week 10 against Titans?

We now know who would have played if the Kansas City Chiefs needed an emergency offensive lineman vs. the Tennessee Titans

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered some attrition along the offensive line late in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans in Week 10.

Back-to-back injuries occurred at the right tackle position that left the Chiefs dangerously thin along the offensive line. First, starting right tackle Mitchell Schwartz suffered an injury, which ended his long consecutive snap streak. A play later, it was left guard Martinas Rankin who had shifted to right tackle. He was injured on his first snap at the position.

Kansas City only had seven offensive linemen dressed to play on Sunday. Starting left tackle Eric Fisher and starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif were both ruled out ahead of the game. With the two injuries to Schwartz and Rankin, the Chiefs would be faced with an emergency situation had they suffered another injury.

So who would have been the emergency backup offensive lineman for the Chiefs had they suffered an injury? Andy Reid let us in on the doomsday plan during his Monday conference call.

“It would be one of the tight ends,” Reid said via 810 Sports Radio’s Soren Petro.

Reid didn’t exactly say which tight end it would be for the Chiefs, so you’ll have to use your imagination on that. Blake Bell would stand to reason, given his usage in blocking scenarios, but he was also banged up with an ankle injury. Travis Kelce is the most veteran tight end on the team and probably the most comfortable with the blocking schemes.

Luckily, the Chiefs didn’t have to try this out. Schwartz was able to return to the game after just a few snaps. I have a feeling this scenario would be much less enjoyable to watch than seeing emergency third-string QB Anthony Sherman run the Chiefs offense, which could have happened in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos.