Chiefs-Chargers setting up as AFC West prizefight
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers are going to be playing for all the marbles in the AFC West on Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s a good bet that neither fan base saw that coming a few months ago.
Kansas City began the season at 5-0 and the trendy pick to win the Super Bowl. Lex Smith and Kareem Hunt were leading the way as MVP candidates. The defense didn’t miss a beat without All-Pro safety Eric Berry, who tore his Achilles tendon in week 1. Then, Kansas City lost six of seven before finally getting right in Week 13. They beat the Oakland Raiders by a 26-15 count that was nowhere near that close.
Los Angeles started the season 0-4. People were already beginning to talk about whether or not rookie head coach Anthony Lynn would see a second season. Then the Chargers won seven of their next nine games to pull to 7-6, even with the free falling Chiefs.
It will be a primetime showdown in Arrowhead, with two original AFL teams lacing them up one more time. Kansas City has recently gotten the better of the Chargers, winning their last seven matchups including a 24-10 decision at StubHub Center back in Week 3.
Of course, the correct refrain would be that games from past years don’t matter, and while their previous 2017 matchup was only a few months ago, it feels a lifetime away for both clubs.
For the Chiefs, they can rely on being at home under the bright lights. Kansas City has already played four primetime games this season. They’ve won four of them, including wins at home over the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. The Chargers have only been in primetime once, although it was a resounding win on Thanksgiving over the Dallas Cowboys.
Los Angeles should feel very good about Philip Rivers playing some of the best ball we’ve seen, throwing only four picks in his last nine outings. If Rivers can continue to stay hot — and he’s averaging more than 350 passing yards over the last three games — there is a good chance the Chargers walk out of Kansas City with sole possession of the AFC West penthouse.
December football should be all about cold weather, star players and division races. Come Saturday night at chilly Arrowhead Stadium, we will have all that and then some for two of the oldest rivals in the AFC.
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