It’s Chargers-Chiefs this week and as much as I’d like to be able to say this one is for sole possession of first place in the AFC West, I cannot. One team is winless and the other is undefeated.
This one does not look good on paper. By records alone, it also doesn’t look like a fun watch for anyone that isn’t already a fan of either team.
But hey, it’s a divisional matchup that has given us plenty of entertaining watches over the last decade. More than likely this one will still do the same.
That said,
here are three things I’ll be watching closely when these teams take the field on Sunday.
1.) What will the offense look like just one week before the bye?
There’s a very strong chance the Chargers simply play it safe with their numerous injuries and use this week as one more opportunity to see what the bottom of the roster has within them.
Wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Brenen Thompson are all hobbled and have been limited through the first two practices this week. Tre’ Harris is in even worse shape as he has been a DNP thus far.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith just had his 21-day window activated and it looks like he’s trending to return this week. That development may lead the Chargers to take a cautious approach with their top guys just one week from the bye.
Let’s just be honest, the offense honestly looks no better no matter who is out there unless it’s a healthy McConkey. He hasn’t been healthy since Week One and it’s about time we let him get to 100 percent before he steps back out on the field.
Right now, Justin Herbert’s healthy receivers are Theo Wease, Derius Davis, and Marquez Valdez-Scantling. On the practice squad, they have Gary Jennings and the recently-signed Luke Grimm. Jennings is out of game day elevations which means he’d have to be signed to the active roster in order to participate against the Chiefs. With Alec Ingold now on IR, Jennings could take that spot if the team chooses.
As for the offensive line, will they send out four rookies for another week? Will veteran Daniel Brunskill learn the offense enough to start at right tackle for Alex Harkey? We’ll have to see come game day.
UPDATE: Both Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston were removed from the final injury report meaning Justin Herbert will have his two top wideouts back this Sunday.
2.) Will Omarion Hampton continue to see his snaps share decrease?
Hampton played only 31.7 percent of the offense’s snaps against the Broncos, although he did receive over 40 percent of the running back carries.
With each week, Hampton is playing less and less. Kimani Vidal’s huge 42-yard touchdown rumble will not do him any favors in getting back anywhere lose to workhorse duties. It also doesn’t help that Mike McDaniel continues to force Keaton Mitchell into the game plan to run sweeps to specifically the right side.
Defenses know what’s coming when either back is in, which can’t be good for a Chargers offense that already isn’t fooling anyone in anyway.
The Chiefs have a great defense. Their linebackers can fly, hit hard, and blitz. Chris Jones is still a menace along the interior and George Karlaftis is an ascending pass rusher. They’re about to face a very young Chargers offensive line and it may not even matter which running back is in.
Hampton, in my opinion, is still the Chargers’ most talented back. I don’t think he’s a timeshare guy and his ability to punish deep into the fourth quarter was an aid to the Bolts last season as they closed out games with the ball in their hands. It’d be nice to get back to that kind of football. But seeing how things are going, we may never see that again (at least, maybe until next year?).
3.) Can Chris O’Leary’s defense continue their strong start against another elite offense?
After a rough outing in Week One against the Cardinals, O’Leary’s unit has been one of the best in the entire league the past four weeks.
Check out these numbers:
Despite not having Derwin James and Donte Jackson in their past two games, they’re still a top-1o unit in EPA/play, success rate, and dropback/EPA.
The efficiency is insane for a group that’s far and away the leader in most drives started within their own territory (18!). Compared to the Saints who are second with 11, that’s even more unreal.
They got Josh Allen and the Bills to turn the ball over five times and helped put a lid on both Sam Darnold and Bo Nix the past two weeks. Now they will face Patrick Mahomes and the revitalized Chiefs offense that now features Kenneth Walker and a highly-productive rushing attack.
O’Leary doesn’t need the team to win this game for it to be a personal “W” in his book. If the defense does their part, records a turnover or two, and helps keep this one close, no one will be able to say another word about his group not pulling their weight.
