Chiefs-Chargers: 5 things to watch in Week 4

Coming into the NFL’s Week 4, the (3-0) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs occupy first place within the AFC West. On Sunday, they’ll play the second-place staff — the (2-1) Los Angeles Chargers — at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is about for 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Whereas it’s Kansas Metropolis’s first divisional sport of the 2024 season, it could not really feel as intense because it ought to. The Chargers’ last damage report featured 4 cornerstone gamers:

Left sort out Rashawn Slater: Out

Edge rusher Joey Bosa: Out

Quarterback Justin Herbert: Questionable after being restricted on this week’s practices with an ankle damage
Proper sort out Joe Alt: Questionable after being held out of this week’s practices with a knee damage

As well as, security Derwin James was suspended for this week’s matchup after an pointless roughness penalty in final week’s sport — the seventh of his profession.

The Chiefs received’t be entire, both. Defensive finish Mike Danna injured his calf in apply this week and received’t play. It is going to be the staff’s second sport with out beginning working again Isiah Pacheco — and vast receiver Hollywood Brown has missed all of this season’s video games.

There is no such thing as a damage report, nonetheless, that may cease new Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh from striving for an upset in his first shot on the Chiefs.

Listed below are 5 issues to look at in the course of the sport:

1. Creating extra explosive performs

The Chiefs’ offense has largely succeeded at sustaining drives and staying forward of the sticks this season. The unit has the league’s highest dashing success price (56.5%) and has confronted the fourth-fewest third downs.

However the offense has been clunky when ending drives — whether or not that’s been from giving the ball away (the Chiefs have the fourth-highest price of drives ending in turnovers) or stalling within the crimson zone: the staff ranks twenty second in red-zone touchdowns.

The treatment is extra explosive performs — on the bottom and thru the air. The backfield has solely produced two rushes of 10 or extra yards this season (each by Pacheco). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is tied for the NFL’s lowest common depth of goal (5.2 yards).

It’s on the scheme to assist produce extra huge performs towards a weak protection — particularly in comparison with the skilled, instinctive again ends Kansas Metropolis confronted within the final two weeks.

2. Getting the Chargers to third-and-long

If it feels just like the Chiefs’ cross rush has been quiet this season, it’s as a result of it has had restricted alternatives to pin their ears again and go after sacks. The protection has confronted the seventh-fewest third-down cross performs this season. 4 of the unit’s six sacks have come on third down.

That can begin on first down and second down, when Los Angeles shall be testing Kansas Metropolis’s run protection: the Chargers have the fourth-highest run price (55.5%). Particularly with potential damage absences, working again J.Okay. Dobbins shall be closely featured; he has the league’s third-most dashing yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

The Chiefs have had success slowing down the opponent’s main ball provider; they need to really feel comfy committing to doing so on this sport, too. If Kansas Metropolis can create extra apparent passing downs, the staff may have extra probabilities to assault the Chargers’ wounded cross safety.

3. A dominant Kansas Metropolis cross protection

Step one shall be forcing extra passing downs. However then the Chiefs must smother the Chargers in these conditions, through which Kansas Metropolis ought to all the time have a robust benefit.

The accidents at offensive sort out will give cross rushers Chris Jones and George Karlaftis an opportunity to tee off from the sting, whereas Danna’s damage ought to enable second-year defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah to get an prolonged alternative. Final Sunday, he earned the primary full sack of his profession — and compelled a fumble within the course of.

The stress could also be much more impactful if backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke performs — particularly for the secondary. Heinicke has thrown 28 interceptions in 29 profession begins. Chiefs’ cornerback Trent McDuffie continues to be in search of his first profession choose.

4. Travis Kelce’s breakout sport

The Chiefs’ first three opponents deserve credit score for formulating (and executing) sound plans to take tight finish Travis Kelce out of the combo. But it surely doesn’t really feel just like the Chargers may have the protection expertise to proceed that pattern.

The injured unit will wish to make Kansas Metropolis earn each downfield yard. Meaning its depleted safeties shall be targeted on retaining vast receiver Xavier Worthy from beating them deep — and containing vast receiver Rashee Rice after the catch.

So this appears like the sport the place Kelce takes benefit of James’ absence and returns to being Mahomes’ security valve over the center. The Los Angeles protection has allowed the fourth-most receptions to tight ends this season.

5. The return of Kareem Hunt

Almost six years since he final performed for the Chiefs, it seems that Hunt will start his journey to redemption on Sunday; he was signed to the 53-man roster this week.

He shall be joined by working backs Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele within the backfield, giving the Chiefs a strong trio of rushers. 87 of Steele’s 99 dashing yards this season have come after contact. Perine pressured three missed tackles over 9 touches in Week 3.

Final season, Hunt was used as a red-zone again for the Cleveland Browns. He scored a career-high 9 touchdowns — all of them coming from contained in the 20-yard line; six got here in goal-to-go conditions.

He additionally caught a landing cross in Cleveland’s playoff sport. That’s an underrated a part of what Hunt can carry to the desk. It’ll be intriguing to look at him with the ball in his arms, whether or not it’s on a handoff or a dump-off to the flat.