The Kansas City Chiefs have a lengthy to-do list for their bye week, but one of the things on their wish list was that quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers might do the Chiefs a solid with an upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Yeah, good luck with that.
Rodgers was a disaster last night as the Chargers cruised to an ugly 25-10 win. The future Hall of Famer has been mostly competent for Pittsburgh so far this season, and he’s even had some excellent flashback moments where he reminds you of just how good he was.
Not last night. Rodgers completed just 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards to go with two interceptions and a touchdown throw, but his stat line barely begins to describe how bad he was. The Chargers’ early safety that occurred when linebacker Khalil Mack strip-sacked Rodgers in the end zone provides some clues, but there were plenty of other awful Rodgers moments in this one.
For the San Diego defense, this was a get-right game. The unit struggled early in the season, but the Chargers have given up just 26 points in their last three games against the Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers, and they held Pittsburgh to under 160 yards of total offense before garbage time commenced in the fourth quarter, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
For the Chiefs, this game was a reminder that the Chargers continue to hang around near the top of the AFC West. Kansas City’s primary focus is on the upcoming battle against the Denver Broncos, but the Chargers currently have a 1-0 record against both teams.
One encouraging sign for the Chiefs is the Chargers’ ongoing issues protecting quarterback Justin Herbert with stud left tackle Joe Alt out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery. Herbert was hit nine times and sacked on five of those hits, and the offense struggled to score for most of the game, with receiver Ladd McConkey being the lone bright spot with 107 yards and a touchdown catch.
The Chiefs don’t have to worry about the Chargers for a while, but given that LA has home games coming up against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders, it’s hard to imagine them not continuing to hang around.
Kansas City gets the Chargers for a home game on Dec. 14, and the Chiefs hope to be in a much better position in the standings for that one as they continue their efforts to climb back to the top of the AFC West.