8:15 pm
September 15

Chargers @ Chiefs

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)

@ Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Chargers: (+172)

Kansas City Chiefs: (-174)

 

• The spread for this game is Chiefs by 4 points.

• The narrative that the Kansas City Chiefs might have diminished firepower after the offseason departure of Tyreek Hill was quelled when quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw five touchdown passes in the club’s season-opening win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Chiefs will aim to follow up the strong performance when they host their AFC West rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, on Thursday night.

• Kansas City (1-0) totaled 488 offensive yards and 33 first downs in the 44-21 road win over Arizona. And the offseason trade of the speedy Hill to the Miami Dolphins was a non-factor as Mahomes passed for 360 yards and became the sixth player in NFL history to throw five touchdowns on six or more occasions.

• Tight end Travis Kelce no longer shares co-star billing on the receiving end with Hill gone, and he was in top form. Kelce, a seven-time Pro Bowler, had eight catches for 121 yards for his 30th career 100-yard performance. That ranks third among tight ends behind Rob Gronkowski (32) and Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez (31).

• Preparing for Kansas City is typically tough, but this time the Chargers have to do it on a short week. Defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said his unit will need to force the ball out of Mahomes’ hands as quickly as possible.

• The Chargers have their own gunslinger in Justin Herbert, who passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-19 home win over the Los Vegas Raiders.

• Herbert will likely be without five-time Pro Bowl wideout Keenan Allen (four catches, 66 yards vs. Las Vegas) due to a hamstring injury Allen sustained during the opener. Allen didn’t practice Tuesday.

• Mahomes said his sore left wrist is feeling better, so Kansas City’s biggest injury situation involves kicker Harrison Butker’s sprained left ankle. Due to the issues with Butker’s plant leg, safety Justin Reid handled some of the kicking duties against Arizona. Kansas City also signed Matt Ammendola to the practice squad on Tuesday and could activate him for Thursday’s contest if Butker can’t play.

• Kansas City has won 13 of the past 16 meetings with the Chargers, but the teams split two games last season.

 

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Kansas City Chiefs
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