This week we were joined by Maurice Elston of our Chiefs sister community, Arrowhead Pride, to help us preview this week’s matchup with Kansas City.
With these two teams on two completely different trajectories this season, this game may not be appointment watching for most, but anyone who follows the AFC West knows it’s still likely to be a surprisingly competitive game between divisional rivals.
Let’s go ahead and dive right in!
1.) The Chiefs are back. I don’t think anyone can say otherwise. Can
you give us a TL/DR explanation on what happened last season and what the Chiefs did to quickly get back into the NFL’s elite?
Last year, the Chiefs lacked discipline across the board. There were costly penalties, turnovers and dropped passes at unfortunate times, and those mistakes completely changed their fortunes in close games. Kansas City went 12-0 in one-score games in 2024, including the playoffs, before going 1-9 in those situations last season. That was probably the biggest difference between the two years.
You pair that with Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury, Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension and several injuries along the offensive line, and it became one of those seasons where everything seemed to go wrong. I also think all those extended playoff runs and trips to the Super Bowl finally caught up with them.
The Chiefs turned it around quickly because they identified their problems and made the necessary changes. They reshuffled the coaching staff, bringing back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator and hiring a demanding wide receivers coach in Chad O’Shea. Those moves restored some of the discipline, energy and accountability that were missing.
They also understood that their style of play needed to change. Defenses had adjusted to Kansas City by taking away the big plays, generating pressure with four rushers and dropping seven into coverage. The addition of Kenneth Walker III and a renewed commitment to the running game have given the offense a different identity. With the dominant interior offensive linemen the Chiefs already had, that change has helped them return to the NFL’s elite quickly.
2.) Signing Kenneth Walker may end up being the most-impactful free agent signed this offseason. How was that signing first received by the Chiefs fan base and how much has he met or surpassed expectations?
The signing was received extremely well by Chiefs fans. Walker was the running back many fans wanted, but I don’t think most people believed Brett Veach would spend the money necessary to get him.
His three-year deal initially looked like a significant investment at a position where the Chiefs traditionally haven’t spent much money. However, after Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson helped reset the running back market, Walker’s contract began looking like an excellent value.
I think he has already surpassed expectations. You knew the Chiefs were getting a great player and a reigning Super Bowl MVP, but 537 rushing yards and 621 yards from scrimmage through four games is beyond what anyone reasonably could have expected. He has completely changed the identity of the offense, given the Chiefs a home-run threat in the backfield and made defenses respect the run on every play.
3.) If you were Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, how would you go about attacking this Chiefs defense? Which players/matchups would you attempt to exploit?
If I’m Mike McDaniel, I’m attacking the Chiefs similarly to how the Raiders did. The best opportunity is in the middle of the field, where you can force Kansas City’s linebackers and safeties to defend in space.
I would use running backs and tight ends on quick passes, option routes and crossing concepts designed to create favorable matchups against the linebackers. I would also test L’Jarius Sneed in the slot. Teams have had some success targeting him with quick passes this season, particularly when they can prevent Kansas City’s pass rush from getting home.
If the Chargers can get the ball out quickly, attack Sneed in the slot and force the Chiefs’ linebackers and safeties into difficult coverage assignments, they should be able to move the football.
4.) If you were Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, how are you attempting to put a lid on this Chiefs offense? How should teams prepare for Kansas City when they now have such a strong rushing attack to go with Patrick Mahomes?
This is where it becomes much more difficult. Defenses can no longer sit back with light boxes, put extra defenders into coverage and dare the Chiefs to run. Kansas City has proven it will remain committed to the running game, and Kenneth Walker has shown he can handle a heavy workload while also breaking explosive plays.
If I’m Chris O’Leary, I’m devoting extra resources to stopping Walker and challenging Kansas City’s wide receivers with man-to-man coverage. The Chiefs’ receivers haven’t consistently beaten man coverage this season, and the group is now depleted. Tyquan Thornton is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Rashee Rice is dealing with a hamstring injury and might not be 100% even if he plays.
I would make the Chiefs’ available wide receivers prove they can consistently separate against man coverage. That comes with the obvious risk of leaving your defensive backs exposed against Patrick Mahomes, but allowing Walker to control the game would make Kansas City almost impossible to stop.
5.) Let’s go ahead and top this off with a final score prediction and few lines on how you see this game shaking out. Are the Chiefs going to win in a blowout? Will it be close?
The Chargers should enter this game in desperation mode. They are 0-5 and badly need a victory, while the Chiefs are 4-0, coming off their bye week and probably feeling very confident.
That creates the ingredients for a potential trap game. On paper, Kansas City is clearly the better team, especially considering the number of injuries the Chargers are dealing with. However, this is still an AFC West rivalry, and these games are normally competitive regardless of the teams’ records.
I expect the Chargers to keep it close through the first three quarters before the Chiefs begin to separate late. Kansas City’s running game and fresh defensive front should eventually wear Los Angeles down.
Chiefs 30, Chargers 20.
