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 workforce — the (2-1) Los Angeles Chargers — at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is ready for 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

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

Left deal with Rashawn Slater: Out

Edge rusher Joey Bosa: Out

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

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

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

There isn’t any harm 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 observe throughout the recreation:

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 fee (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 fee of drives ending in turnovers) or stalling within the pink zone: the workforce 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 large 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’ move 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 move performs this season. 4 of the unit’s six sacks have come on third down.

That may begin on first down and second down, when Los Angeles will likely be testing Kansas Metropolis’s run protection: the Chargers have the fourth-highest run fee (55.5%). Particularly with potential harm absences, working again J.Ok. Dobbins will likely 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 major ball provider; they need to really feel snug committing to doing so on this recreation, too. If Kansas Metropolis can create extra apparent passing downs, the workforce can have extra possibilities to assault the Chargers’ wounded move safety.

3. A dominant Kansas Metropolis move protection

Step one will likely 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 powerful benefit.

The accidents at offensive deal with will give move rushers Chris Jones and George Karlaftis an opportunity to tee off from the sting, whereas Danna’s harm 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 remains to be on the lookout for his first profession decide.

4. Travis Kelce’s breakout recreation

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 can have the protection expertise to proceed that pattern.

The injured unit will need to make Kansas Metropolis earn each downfield yard. Meaning its depleted safeties will likely be targeted on maintaining extensive receiver Xavier Worthy from beating them deep — and containing extensive 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

Practically 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 will likely 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 compelled 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 move in Cleveland’s playoff recreation. That’s an underrated a part of what Hunt can deliver to the desk. It’ll be intriguing to observe him with the ball in his arms, whether or not it’s on a handoff or a dump-off to the flat.