The fate of the AFC West may be determined in Week 15. And it may be determined in the very spot the NFL typically reserves for throwaway Jacksonville Jaguars games.
Thursday Night Football will host a marquee matchup with major playoff implications when the Los Angeles Chargers play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. The game is a lens to provide clearer sight on several different questions.
Is this Chiefs team a worthy successor to the two-time AFC champions that preceded it? Was the Kansas City defense able to fix itself, in season, without any major additions?
Should the Chargers be taken seriously as contenders, or are they hanging around just long enough for their self-sabotage to be entirely devastating to a jaded fanbase, as tradition dictates? Is Justin Herbert ready to join the NFL’s protected class of elite quarterbacks?
That last question could decide whether Los Angeles takes over first place in the division in hopes for its first West title since 2009 or whether the status quo remains unchanged. We’ve got a game that could shape the road to the Super Bowl in Week 15, and we’re getting it on a Thursday night. Sometimes the Football Gods shine upon us.
Let’s talk about their bounty. All odds via Tipico.