Following an early bye week, the Kansas City Chiefs return to action Sunday against the winless Los Angeles Chargers.
Kansas City is 4-0, while Los Angeles has lost its first five games and is averaging fewer than 17 points. But the Chargers remain a dangerous opponent in the division — especially for a Chiefs team potentially missing two key wide receivers.
Rashee Rice missed the first two practices of the week with hamstring and knee injuries. Tyquan Thornton is sidelined after dislocating his ankle against the Las Vegas Raiders. That puts extra responsibility on Kansas City’s young pass-catchers as it tries to stay undefeated.
Here are three keys to the Chiefs’ victory in Week 6.
Offensive key: The young receivers — and Travis Kelce — must win their matchups
The Chargers’ record should not outweigh their ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Los Angeles has recorded 11 sacks through five games, which is in the top half of the league despite its winless start.
With Kenneth Walker III leading one of the NFL’s most productive rushing attacks, the Chargers will likely emphasize stopping the run and forcing Kansas City’s young receivers to beat man coverage. This makes it an important game for Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen.
Andy Reid can help them by leaning on play-action, pre-snap motion and route combinations that create natural separation. However, those receivers will eventually have to win individual matchups and find openings when Los Angeles drops into zone coverage. Patrick Mahomes needs reliable targets who can keep the offense on schedule, especially on third down.
Travis Kelce should have a bigger role as well. He was targeted just four times against the Raiders, finishing with two receptions for 15 yards. Chargers safety Derwin James is out with a hamstring injury, so Kansas City should take advantage of his absence in the middle of the field.
Kelce doesn’t necessarily need another 100-yard performance, but he should be one of Mahomes’ primary answers under pressure. If Kelce controls the middle and the young receivers continue to separate on the outside, the Chargers will have a hard time creating additional defenders around Walker.
Defensive key: Sack Nation must return
The Chiefs were able to create pressure but the plays were not consistently completed.
Kansas City entered this matchup with just four sacks — the fewest in the NFL — and a league-low sack rate of 2.6%. Its 24% pressure rate is closer to the league average, showing that defenders are reaching the pocket but not taking quarterbacks on the ground. Against Las Vegas, the Chiefs recorded 10 quarterback hits but failed to sack the quarterback for the third straight game.
This is the week to change.
Quarterback Justin Herbert has been sacked 17 times, including five in last week’s loss at Denver. The Chargers are also dealing with extensive injuries to their offensive line. Starting tackle Rashawn Slater is on injured reserve, while tackle Joe Alt and guard Kayode Awosika missed the first two practices this week. The Chargers were forced to start four rookies on the line against Denver.
That gives Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and the rest of Kansas City’s defensive front the best chance to end the pressures it generates. Karlaftis produced 11 pressures and seven quarterback hits against the Raiders, while Jones has yet to record a sack this season.
The goal should be at least three sacks and consistent hits on Herbert. Steve Spagnuolo can attack Los Angeles’ inexperienced blockers with twists, simulated pressures and carefully timed blitzes. More importantly, Kansas City’s front four must win enough games to keep Herbert from getting comfortable.
Pressures matter. This week, however, the Chiefs will have to turn into drive-ending sacks.
X-factor: Avoid the trap-game mentality
The Chargers are 0-5. The Chiefs are undefeated, resting and playing at home.
That combination makes it easy to see this game as an automatic Kansas City win. It’s not.
Los Angeles is still a division rival with an experienced quarterback. A winless team does nothing but achieve the first victory by handing an undefeated rival its first loss. The Chiefs coaching staff must make sure the players approach this matchup with the same urgency they brought to their early season games against Denver and Las Vegas.
Kansas City couldn’t allow turnovers, penalties or defensive breakdowns that kept the Chargers within one possession late. The Chiefs must play aggressively from the opening drive, build an early advantage, and continue to attack instead of being conservative.
The longer an underdog stays within striking distance, the more confident it becomes. Kansas City must stay focused — and keep its foot on the gas — for all four quarters.
The Chiefs can’t expect Kenneth Walker III to carry the offense every week, especially when the Chargers will likely work their defensive plan on slowing him down.
Kansas City’s young receivers must create separation, while Travis Kelce will have to control the middle of the field—especially if Derwin James can’t play. Defensively, the Chiefs should take advantage of Los Angeles’ depleted offensive line by turning recent pressures into at least three sacks and some hits on Justin Herbert.
Above all, Kansas City must respect its winless division rival and play with ease from start to finish.
If the Chiefs can do those three things, they should avoid the trap, improve to 5-0 and continue to strengthen their early position atop the AFC West.