Chiefs-Chargers: Five Early Thoughts Before Sunday’s Game
By Ben Nielsen
The Kansas City Chiefs get back to the grind this week to prepare for a key game against the 5-1 San Diego Chargers. Here are some early thoughts on both the Chiefs and Chargers and what we may see.
THE RETURN OF DAT AND STEPHENSON
We should expect the full returns of both De’Anthony Thomas and Donald Stephenson to the Chiefs lineup for Sunday’s game, which is wonderful timing.
Thomas and Stephenson were both active for the Chiefs in their loss to San Francisco and Thomas even played six offensive snaps. But the full effect of having Thomas and Stephenson back should be felt on Sunday when Stephenson starts at right tackle and Thomas sees more snaps on offense.
Stephenson replaces Ryan Harris on the right side which should be huge for the Chiefs screen and running games. So much of what Andy Reid likes to do on offense involves getting linemen out in space and getting speed out on the edge. Harris was not well fitted to do those things at right tackle the way Stephenson is, and that’s disregarding the talent gap between them.
Getting back into an offensive rhythm involves Stephenson reopening the right side of the offensive line as a possibility to run plays and getting Thomas’ speed back on the edge.
Part of the solution for the Chiefs at wide receiver was to get Thomas in the mix all over the field. Aside from Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs didn’t have another ‘home run’ threat to get the offense some big plays. Travis Kelce is beginning to emerge into one of those threats but even he doesn’t have the potential to go 80 yards at any moment. That’s the kind of speed De’Anthony Thomas has to offer the offense.
With Thomas back the Chiefs can finally add some layers to their offense starting with Charles as the base, Kelce and Anthony Fasano over the middle, Dwayne Bowe as the possession receiver on the edge, and Thomas as the downfield/home run threat. The amount of diversity available there should make the Chiefs offense more formative when they play tough teams like the Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and Denver Broncos.
And, of course, that works mostly because the Chiefs will have Stephenson back protecting Alex Smith’s right side.