For the Kansas City Chiefs, this week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers represents true desperation mode. They’re under .500 at 6-7, and even if the Chiefs win their chances of making the playoffs will still be small.
Go beyond the Chiefs spot in the standings, however, and this game represents something else. They’re viable playoff contenders sitting at 9-4, and they still have a chance to catch the Denver Broncos and win the AFC West. A win against a wounded Kansas City team won't be easy, but this is basically a game the Chargers have to have.
But this is also a rivalry game, and the Chargers haven’t swept the season series with the Chiefs since 2013. That’s a long run as an AFC West also-ran, and coach Jim Harbaugh recognizes its importance.
"It's the biggest game of the season," Harbaugh said in an ESPN preview piece written by Kris Rhim."Everybody's fighting for their playoff lives, fighting for their football lives."
That quote came with a spicy prediction, which is that receiver Ladd McConkey will be held to five or fewer targets for the second straight week.
That’s a surprising number for casual Chargers fans or those who don’t really follow the club closely. But Rhim backed it up with a stat that indicates that the Chief allow targets to players who line up in the slot just 23 percent of the time, and McConkey plays 62 percent of his snaps from out of the slot.
Simple logic says the Chargers will do some things to give McConkey a better chance of getting open against the Chiefs. Sending him in motion would be one possibility, and another would be lining McConkey up on the outside, or even in the backfield.
Justin Herbert’s hand injury shouldn’t be a factor in this, but Chiefs fans also shouldn't rule it out as a potential issue. The injury is to Herbert’s non-throwing hand, but he’s been running a lot lately, and Kansas City will be looking to capitalize on that if the Chargers quarterback gets reckless once he escapes from the pocket.
The piece also included another interesting nugget for those who want to put some money on this one. According to ESPN Research, the Chargers have covered in the past three meetings between the teams, and the Chiefs come into this one as 5.5 point favorites, which means LA will win if they can do it again.