The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a difficult 20-17 home loss against the Dallas Cowboys and now have to travel for a divisional game in Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
“They’re all critical, but I think especially after a tough loss, you got to respond the right way,” Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday. “I think the way that you that is staying consistent in your approach and being committed to how you do things.
“What you have to focus on, are the keys to winning. What ultimately is going to impact winning on Sunday? That’s where our full focus has to be right now.”
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The Chargers are 2-3 and are in third place trailing the Las Vegas Raiders (3-3) and the first place Chiefs (5-1). Los Angeles does not want to afford another loss and fall to 2-4. Another defeat would continue to set the Chargers back behind the eight-ball to not only be in the hunt for the division crown, but a wild card spot.
Based on the scheduling and the matchup heading into this game, it does not favor the Chargers that much.
Right above them in the standings are the Raiders who, despite not having quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo available, go on the road to face the Chicago Bears (1-5), who also will not have their quarterback in Justin Fields.
In addition, the Chiefs have more rest heading into this game after playing last week on Thursday night at home against Denver, whereas, the Chargers played on Monday night — making it an extra four days to prepare on top of Los Angeles having to travel.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said the team has to focus on what it can do, no matter the situation.
“That’s part of the NFL,” Herbert said Wednesday. “That’s the way things happen and whether you’re coming off Monday or whether you’re going on to a bye, you don’t have any control of the schedule. We can sit here and complain or get our bodies back and do everything we can to have our best week of practice, regardless of the situation.”
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Los Angeles Chargers have to figure out how to control Travis Kelce
One of the biggest challenges on defense for any team, let alone the Los Angeles Chargers, will be figuring out how not to stop Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, but how to contain him.
Stopping Kelce is a bonus.
In his last two games, Kelce has caught 19 passes on 20 targets for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Furthermore, in the tight end’s last four games, Kelce has at least six receptions for 60 yards.
Staley said covering Kelce makes it that much more difficult because of the connection him and Patrick Mahomes have.
“He’s does everything at such a premium level as a receiver,” Staley said. “I think the thing that is tough is the chemistry that him and Pat have. No matter what the coverage is, man or zone, he’s got an outstanding feel how to attack and beat leverage. When you have that feel in the passing game, he can get open when the play isn’t necessarily designed to go that way.
“The other thing that Travis does such a good job of is running with the football after the catch. He’s one of the top tight ends to ever play and a lot of respect for him.”
As a result, it is going to take the entire secondary to do their best to keep Kelce in check, from the cornerbacks to the safeties.
Whether it is Derwin James, who’s been a Pro Bowler the last two years, or another player, they have to step in another critical matchup.
Staley said his trio of starting cornerbacks – Michael Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor and Asante Samuel Jr. – have improved over the last few weeks and have more room to get better as the season rolls along.
“I like the way we’re communicating, like the way we’re competing. I think they’ve strung together two winning performances. I feel like if we don’t foul, then we’re going to say, ‘man, we’re coming along.’ So, we just got eliminate that part from the equation.”
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Penalties cannot affect the Chargers in a negative way
Already up against a good offense and a good defense, led by defensive tackle Chris Jones, the Los Angeles Chargers have to play the way they can. The biggest thing the Chargers can do is to limit penalties and hurt themselves
Last week against Dallas, the Chargers recorded nine flags for 79 yards.
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Last year, the Chiefs swept the season series by three points in each matchup. At Arrowhead Stadium 13 months ago, James committed a face mask penalty on a play that flipped the field, courtesy of a 52-yard run by Clyde Edwards-Helaire. That drive led to the Chiefs gaining a two-possession game before winning 27-24.
Penalties hurt a team in the biggest ways, especially in a negative way because of the extra opportunity it brings to an opponent.
As a result, the Chargers have to execute in a penalty-free way in a challenging road environment to get back to .500 when the game kicks off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET inside Arrowhead Stadium.