It’s Chargers-Chiefs this week and as much as I want to say this one is all about owning first place in the AFC West, I can’t. One team is winless and the other is undefeated.
This one doesn’t look good on paper. Just by the notes, it also doesn’t look like a fun watch for anyone who isn’t already a fan of either team.
But hey, this is a divisional matchup that has given us plenty of entertaining viewing over the past decade. More than likely this one will still do the same.
That said, here are three things I’ll be keeping a close eye on when these teams take the field on Sunday.
1.) What will the offense look like a week before the bye?
There is a very strong chance that the Chargers can stay safe with their many injuries and use this week as another opportunity to see what they have under the roster.
Wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Brenen Thompson were confused and limited in 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 activated his 21-day window and looks to be trending back this week. That development could lead the Chargers to take a cautious approach with their top man just a week away from the bye.
Let’s be honest, the offense honestly isn’t much better no matter who’s out there unless it’s a healthy McConkey. He hasn’t been healthy since Week 1 and it’s about time we let him get to 100 percent before he backs off 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 not at game day elevations which means he has to be signed to the active roster 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? Can veteran Daniel Brunskill learn the offense to start at right tackle for Alex Harkey? We’ll have to see on game day.
UPDATE: Both Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston were ruled out on the final injury report meaning Justin Herbert will have his two top wideouts this Sunday.
2.) Will Omarion Hampton continue to see his snaps share decrease?
Hampton played just 31.7 percent of the offense’s snaps against the Broncos, although he received more than 40 percent of the running back carries.
Each week, Hampton plays less and less. Kimani Vidal’s massive 42-yard touchdown rumble won’t help him get back anywhere but lose workhorse duties. It also doesn’t help that Mike McDaniel keeps forcing Keaton Mitchell into the game plan to run sweeps on the right side in particular.
Defenses know what’s coming when either back comes in, which can’t be good for a Chargers offense that still isn’t fooling anyone.
The Chiefs defense was great. Their linebackers can fly, hit hard, and blitz. Chris Jones is still a threat along the interior and George Karlaftis is an up and coming pass rusher. They are about to face a very young Chargers offensive line and it may not matter which setback.
Hampton, in my opinion, is still the Chargers’ most talented back. I don’t think he’s a timeshare and his ability to punish until the fourth quarter was a boon to the Bolts last season as they closed out games with the ball in their hands. It’s good to be back in that kind of football. But seeing as how things are going, we might not 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 Week 1 outing against the Cardinals, O’Leary’s unit has been one of the best in the league over the past four weeks.
Despite being without Derwin James and Donte Jackson in their past two games, they are still a top-10 unit in EPA/play, success rate, and dropback/EPA.
The efficiency is insane for an away group and the leader in most drives started inside their own territory (18!). Compared to the Saints who are second at 11, that’s even less true.
They got Josh Allen and the Bills to turn the ball over five times and helped cover Sam Darnold and Bo Nix the past two weeks. Now they face Patrick Mahomes and the resurgent Chiefs offense that now features Kenneth Walker and a very productive rushing attack.
O’Leary didn’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 can say another word about his group not pulling their weight.