Following an early bye week, theKansas City Chiefs return to action Sunday against the winless Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City is 4-0, while Los Angeles has lost its first five games and is averaging fewer than 17 points. But the Chargers remain a dangerous divisional opponent — especially for a Chiefs team potentially missing two important wide receivers.
Rashee Rice missed the first two practices of the week with hamstring and knee injuries. Tyquan Thornton is sidelined after dislocating his ankle
against the Las Vegas Raiders. That places additional responsibility on Kansas City’s young pass-catchers as it attempts to remain undefeated.
Here are three keys to a Chiefs victory in Week 6.
Offensive key: Young receivers — and Travis Kelce — must win their matchups
The Chargers’ record shouldn’t overshadow their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Los Angeles has recorded 11 sacks through five games, ranking in the top half of the league despite its winless start.
With Kenneth Walker III leading one of the NFL’s most productive rushing attacks, the Chargers will likely emphasize stopping the run and forcing Kansas City’s young receivers to beat man coverage. That makes this an important game for Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen.
Andy Reid can help them by leaning on play-action, pre-snap motion and route combinations that create natural separation. However, those receivers will eventually have to win individual matchups and find openings when Los Angeles drops into zone coverage. Patrick Mahomes needs dependable targets who can keep the offense on schedule, especially on third down.
Travis Kelce should also have a larger role. He was targeted only four times against the Raiders, finishing with two receptions for 15 yards. Chargers safety Derwin James will not play because of his hamstring injury, so Kansas City must exploit his absence in the middle of the field.
Kelce doesn’t necessarily need another 100-yard performance, but he should be one of Mahomes’ primary answers under pressure. If Kelce controls the middle and the young receivers consistently separate outside, the Chargers will have a difficult time committing additional defenders to Walker.
Defensive key: Sack Nation must return
The Chiefs have created pressure but haven’t consistently finished plays.
Kansas City enters this matchup with only four sacks — the fewest in the NFL — and a league-low sack rate of 2.6%. Its 24% pressure rate is closer to the league average, showing defenders are reaching the pocket but not taking quarterbacks to the ground. Against Las Vegas, the Chiefs recorded 10 quarterback hits but failed to sack the quarterback for the third straight game.
This is the week that must change.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has already been sacked 17 times, including five times in last week’s loss to Denver. The Chargers are also dealing with extensive injuries along their offensive line. Starting tackle Rashawn Slater is on injured reserve, while tackle Joe Alt and guard Kayode Awosika missed the first two practices this week. The Chargers were forced to start four rookies along the line against Denver.
That gives Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and the rest of Kansas City’s defensive front its best chance to finish the pressures it has been generating. Karlaftis produced 11 pressures and seven quarterback hits against the Raiders, while Jones has yet to record a sack this season.
The goal should be at least three sacks and consistent hits on Herbert. Steve Spagnuolo can attack Los Angeles’ inexperienced blockers with twists, simulated pressures and carefully timed blitzes. More importantly, Kansas City’s front four must win enough matchups to prevent Herbert from becoming comfortable.
Pressures matter. This week, however, the Chiefs need to turn them into drive-ending sacks.
X-factor: Avoid the trap-game mentality
The Chargers are 0-5. The Chiefs are undefeated, rested and playing at home.
That combination makes it easy to see this game as an automatic Kansas City win. It is not.
Los Angeles is still a division rival with an experienced quarterback. A winless team would love nothing more than to earn its first victory by handing an undefeated rival its first loss. The Chiefs’ coaching staff must ensure the players approach this matchup with the same urgency they carried into their early-season games against Denver and Las Vegas.
Kansas City cannot allow turnovers, penalties, or defensive breakdowns that keep the Chargers within one possession late. The Chiefs should play aggressively from the opening drive, build an early advantage, and continue attacking rather than becoming conservative.
The longer an underdog remains within striking distance, the more confident it becomes. Kansas City must stay focused — and keep its foot on the gas — for all four quarters.
The bottom line
The Chiefs cannot expect Kenneth Walker III to carry the offense every week, especially when the Chargers will likely build their defensive plan around slowing him down.
Kansas City’s young receivers must create separation, while Travis Kelce needs to control the middle of the field—especially if Derwin James cannot play. Defensively, the Chiefs must exploit Los Angeles’ depleted offensive line by turning recent pressures into at least three sacks and several hits on Justin Herbert.
Most importantly, Kansas City must respect its winless division rival and play with urgency from beginning to end.
If the Chiefs accomplish those three things, they should avoid the trap, improve to 5-0 and continue strengthening their early position atop the AFC West.
