The Kansas City Chiefs enter their Sunday AFC West battle against the Los Angeles Chargers alone in first place and on a three-game winning streak to open the 2024 season. However, whenever these teams meet, it’s generally a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter. Despite injuries, Jim Harbaugh will have his team ready to face the Chiefs.
If Andy Reid weren’t the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, I’d be pounding the drum for the team to sign Jim Harbaugh as the next head coach. Thankfully, Reid has saved the franchise and is as beloved as ever. However, the man the Los Angeles Chargers hired, Jim Harbaugh, to challenge the Chiefs won’t let injuries or suspensions be a liability from having his team prepared Sunday.
Despite sweeping injuries, most notably to Quarterback Justin Herbert, who will start later today, the Chargers know this game Sunday in Los Angeles has the potential to shape the AFC West for the remainder of the season. With those injuries and a Bye Week for Los Angeles, they can take two approaches to their matchup against the Chiefs.
First, they could rest their hobbling quarterback, which doesn’t appear likely, and give him three weeks off to heal his high ankle sprain. It’s already been reported that neither starting tackles Rashawn Slater nor Joe Alt will not play Sunday, nor will defensive standout Joey Bosa.
Second, they can get Tyler Heineke ready for spot duty, and don’t be shocked if he plays Sunday at some point. I hope he doesn’t have to enter the game, but it’s risky for Herbert to play with a depleted offensive line in week four. Harbaugh is generally conservative and sees the big picture but understands this is a big game.
To that point, he will be surprised by how many Chiefs fans will be in attendance on Sunday. It won’t feel like an actual home game, which happened in Atlanta Sunday night.
This is an important game for both teams’ division hopes. The winner will be in first place with the tie-breaker in hand, and these teams won’t meet again too late in the season in Kansas City. By that time, both teams, provided they have no further injuries, might be closer to 100%.
Kansas City is the better team, and that’s been the case in their three wins this season. However, the offense is off, and Patrick Mahomes struggles with time management in the pocket.
At times this season, he’s escaped a clean pocket or not used his legs enough to run for first downs. Instead, he’s tried to make big plays that have resulted in four interceptions. Even though Safety Derwin James is suspended for this AFC West battle, the Chargers have a great pass rush and an excellent secondary.
Chargers pass rush Joey Bosa, who is nursing a hip injury that put him on the bench in the second half Sunday at Pittsburgh, will be out, and Khalil Mack can create problems for Mahomes. With Wanya Morris expected to make his second start, even if Bosa isn’t functioning at a high level, he’s still a handful.
Mack is anything but consistent. Yet when he gets on a roll, he can pile up sacks. Further, the Chargers defense has the workforce to shut down Travis Kelce.
Thus far in 2024, Mahomes and Kelce have produced little productivity, but they’ve enjoyed much success against the Chargers on the road.
The early key to this game might be the running game for both teams. Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins was outstanding in games one and two, but he struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.
That might be the same this week, as the Chiefs have been stout, stopping the run this year against some of the better running backs in the league.
Conversely, Kareem Hunt will debut on Sunday but won’t start. That honor goes to rookie Carson Steele, who had a terrific performance against the Falcons.
It’s still early in the week, and we don’t know which Los Angeles players will play Sunday, but that should not matter to the Chiefs. They need a decisive win, so this might be the right time for the offense to start hot.
