The Los Angeles Chargers get back-to-back primetime games after being flexed into Sunday Night Football. This new primetime game will come against the division rival Chiefs who are currently atop the AFC. If the Chargers want to make the playoffs in a highly competitive AFC, a win over the Chiefs at home would help those chances. According to FiveThirtyEight, their chances of making the playoffs jump 20 percentage points with a win this weekend.
The first time these two teams met was the first Thursday night game of the year when the Bolts lost 24-27 after a Justin Herbert injury. The offense will look different this time so let’s break down what to watch in this primetime AFC West battle.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1187212″ player=”32134″ title=”Justin%20Herbert%20is%20BACK!%20%20Chargers%20Film%20Breakdown%20vs%2049ers%20%20Top%205%20QB%20″ duration=”723″ description=”Los Angeles Chargers vs the San Fransisco 49ers in Week 10 of the 2022 NFL Season brought some highlights for Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Josh Palmer and some Chargers defenders like Drue Tranquill, Khalil Mack, and Asante Samuel Jr. Justin Herbert is a Top 5 Elite Quarterback in the NFL and when healthy he is the most athletically gifted and best QB in the NFL with the like of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. In this film study / review / breakdown / all 22 film I showed how Justin Herbert is playing with so little around him (similar to Philip Rivers late in his career) but still playing elite even when HE HIMSELF is injured!! Brandon Staley came in with a great defensive gameplan but Joe Lombardi seemed to not call plays very well in the 2nd half, did Joe Lombardi cause the Chargers to lose or is he just the scape goat? Jimmy Garoppolo and Christian McCaffrey are hard to stop and late in this game CMC got some highlights but this defense played hard and the Chargers were in it until the very end. Listen to our Chargers Podcast: https://www.lafbnetwork.com/chargers-unleashed/Go to www.LAFBNetwork.com for FREE full access to all of our podcasts and join the community!Text ‘LAFB’ to 31032 to join the conversation!Social Media: @LAFBNetworkSponsors: TickPick is the official ticket partner of the LA Football Network: https://www.tickpick.com/LAFBBrandon Staley is the Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach for the 2022 NFL Season but after the 2023 NFL Draft the Chargers could have Sean Payton as Head Coach if they don’t get some highlights and win games. Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Tre McKitty, Rashawn Slater, Jamaree Salyer, Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Zion Johnson, Trey Pipkins, Sony Michel, Joshua Kelley, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, DeAndre Carter, Gerald Everett should be playing great for the offense highlights. Derwin James, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, JC Jackson, J.C. Jackson, Bryce Callahan, Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Chris Rumph, Kenneth Murray, Kyle Van Noy, Drue Tranquill, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Jerry Tillery, and Otito Ogbonnia should get chargers defense highlights 2022.#nfl #chargers #boltup #shorts #nflshorts” uploaddate=”2022-11-16″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/22501/snapshot/1187212_th_1668628062.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/22501/sd/1187212.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
Matchups to watch
Chargers Passing Game vs Chiefs Secondary
The Chargers are hoping to either get Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, or maybe even both back on the field this week. This would obviously help the Chargers passing game. It just isn’t the same without them and the Chargers will need all the firepower they can get to keep up with the best offense in the league. Josh Palmer has been decent filling in for the two, but he’s better as a second option. Herbert can’t rely on Austin Ekeler to pick up all the receiving slack so adding either Allen or Williams would be ideal.
The Chiefs Secondary is in the bottom 10 of the league in terms of passing yards allowed so I’d expect there to be lots of airing it out early.
Derwin James vs Travis Kelce
This was the matchup on defense that headlined the last game with Derwin James body-slamming Travis Kelce at the goal line. Derwin is a pretty great matchup for Kelce who’s usually the Chiefs main option on offense. Kelce is the Chiefs’ current leading receiver coming in at 7th in the entire NFL. Shutting down Kelce will be the main focus of the defense as the other receiving options aren’t as threatening.
Kadarius Toney vs Michael Davis/Deane Leonard
Kadarius Toney will likely go against one of those two corners which is a matchup waiting to be exploited. Toney had a great game last week in a limited role with four catches for 57 yards and a score. He’s a threat with the ball in his hands and is able to separate at the line. It’s almost a certainty that with everyone else covered, Mahomes will look to Toney as the main option.
Keys to Win
Make the Chiefs Run the Ball
The Chiefs have been the best passing team in the league this year with 314 passing yards per game. Their running game on the other hand has been pretty subpar with a different leading rusher nearly every game. Mahomes himself has accounted for nearly as many rushing yards as Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Their strength on offense is passing the ball so playing a two-high shell coverage, Staley knows a thing or two about that, forcing them to run it. Then they have to trust their run defense can hold up for all four quarters
Balance the Offense
Justin Herbert is currently on pace to break the single-season passing attempt record by two throws. The Chargers running game hasn’t lived up to expectations with Ekeler being boom or bust when it comes to running the ball. Joshua Kelley, Sony Michel, and Isaiah Spiller haven’t been great running the ball either. The Chargers are averaging the 30th most rushing yards per game only ahead of Tampa Bay and the Rams. A more balanced offense sustains longer drives and thus holds the ball out of Patrick Mahomes‘ hands.
Contain Mahomes
Not only is Mahomes going to be beating you through the air, but he can also use his legs to pick up an easy first down. Both he and Josh Allen are able to scramble for an easy 10 yards and are occasionally the leading rushers on their teams. With the Chargers hopefully playing two high safeties, that means fewer defenders to cover the run. The Chargers’ edge rushers need to be wary of this and not only rush the passer but set the edge and stop Mahomes if he begins to run.
