Chiefs vs. Chargers: 3 key matchups to watch

Alex Smith vs. Chargers defense

I don’t know if anyone expected Alex Smith to play as well as he has so far this season. Going into week 3, Smith leads the NFL in passer rating at 134.1, and is 5th in total yards. Smith has also already thrown for 5 touchdown passes which is 1/3rd of his total from 2016. Smith is on a path to smash his career bests in completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns.

Against the Chargers, Smith will be facing a secondary that is certainly talented with the likes of Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett, but so far this season has been middling. No thanks in part to Verrett having setbacks on a knee injury he suffered last season and missing the second game of the season. Verrett’s status for this Sunday is currently undetermined, but his replacement Trevor Williams has played well and has the confidence of head coach Anthony Lynn.

Within the front 7, Smith will need to concern himself with second year pass rusher Joey Bosa and veteran Melvin Ingram. Combined the two have 4 sacks out of the team’s 6 total. The Chiefs offensive line currently ranks 27th allowing sacks at a 10.4% adj. sack rate by Football Outsiders. Considering the Chargers are weakest against the run, I expect Smith to have a game closer to what we’ve come to know from him. Expect around 220 passing yards and 1 passing touchdown.