Chargers vs. Chiefs: Staff predictions are mixed for game’s outcome
Even a poll of our own staff reveal a couple staff writers who don’t believe the Chiefs can pull off the important win at home over the Chargers.
We’ve already taken a close look at various NFL analysts and who they believe will come out on top of Saturday’s game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs. On a national level, it was hard to find a Chiefs supporter given the Chargers current winning streak. Even in K.C., where everyone wants to believe, it’s still hard to find across-the-board faith in the team.
Here’s a rundown of our staff writers’ predictions for the final score and how they think the game will play out, including a couple who think the Chargers will leave with a win.
Chiefs 34, Chargers 31
The Kansas City Chiefs have seemed to get back on track with a win over division rival the Oakland Raiders at home last week. This week a red-hot Charger team looks to go one up on the defending division champs. LA has been clicking on both sides of the ball and are making a last ditch run at the division and the glory of the post-season. However, they run into Arrowhead, and the Sea of Red who will be the big factor in this game. The Chiefs continue to show why they were considered a contender at the beginning of the season with their offense able to make some big plays, despite the stellar defense of the Chargers. The defense will do just enough to fluster quarterback Phillip Rivers to cause him to make some mistakes. This gives Kansas City the win and a direct line to the division and to the playoffs for a second year. [Nick Floyd]
Chiefs 35, Chargers 28
After a redemption game against the Raiders, the Chiefs will win again, leaning on the legs of Kareem Hunt and the arm of Alex Smith. Hunt will bring home two touchdowns and 150 rushing yards. Smith will throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns. The West is ours! [Lucas Hampton]
Chargers 31 Chiefs 30
The Chiefs looked good this past weekend, however, they did it against a team that in recent history has not looked good at Arrowhead. In one of the perhaps the greatest example of Not Showing Up in recent memory, the Raiders no show with their season on the line was stunning. So while it was nice to see the Chiefs play well, it’s hard to imagine the team will run into another team with their season on the line and decides not to show up. The Chiefs have not played a team that have truly showed up and won in months. (Oakland didn’t show up and neither did the Broncos when they came in and continued to ask Trevor Siemien throw interceptions all over the field.)
San Diego, err I mean Los Angeles, has it all in front of them and are playing as a team that wants to play in the postseason. Joey Bosa is a beast and Melvin Ingram is no slouch himself. Running the ball will not be nearly as easy this week as last week. And Philip Rivers history at Arrowhead far and away exceeds anything Carr has done. And the group of receivers, while not nearly the names the Raiders brought in, are performing at a much higher level. Two months of poor play can’t be ignored by one solid game against a team that never got off the bus. Chargers win this one late. [John McCarty]
Chiefs 27, Chargers 26
This game is terrifying. Before the last meeting with LA back in September, I wrote a piece detailing why Chiefs fans should be terrified of Phillip Rivers. All of his best traits have been on display over the past few weeks. The Chargers are the hottest team in the NFL, there is no reason to believe Kansas City will pull this one off. That being said, I have to believe in some Arrowhead magic on a Saturday night in December. Arrowhead will be rocking and the defense, in particular Marcus Peters, will be out to make a statement. This is one of those games we will talk about for a long time, we will point to Saturday night as the victory that fueled a deep playoff run. Kansas City wins a back and forth battle on a Harrison Butker field goal as time expires. [Austin Owen]
Chiefs 21, Chargers 19
Its been well publicised how Phllip Rivers has been made to feel so uncomfortable, yet alone struggle in Arrowhead Stadium. I like how the Chiefs match up against the Chargers and the 7 consecutive win streak over their divisional foes backs that up. Make no mistake that Keenan Allen and co. Scare me and look a well oiled machine with great momentum behind them. However, get Rivers off his spot with incessant pressure as we have become accustomed to in our games, even as recently as week 3, and his accuracy goes way off the map, not to mention Marcus Peters’ record matching up with the in-form Allen cannot be doubted. Again I like how this defence matches up to nullify L.A.’s strengths and this is a game under the lights in Arrowhead that convinces me that great advantage will prove decisive. Expect the offence to stutter somewhat and struggle against the pass rushing abilities of Joey Bona and Melvin Ingram, whom Alex Smith must have been having nightmares about this week. There’s form there too, but the Chiefs edge this one and march towards the division title. [Matt Phillips]
Chiefs 28, Chargers 21
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The Kansas City Chiefs salvaged their season with an 11-point win over the Oakland Raiders last week. Saturday’s primetime matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers presents an opportunity for them to take another definitive step towards a second consecutive division title (the first in franchise history). The red hot Chargers come in winners of four straight. Philip Rivers and company will score against a rejuvenated Chiefs defense, but a resurgent Kansas City offense will win the shootout before a rabid group of fans in arguably the most electric NFL stadium in nationally-televised affairs. Good guys win, 28-21. [Reach]
Chiefs 31, Chargers 21
The Chiefs will run the ball against the Chargers who struggle against the run game. They will control the ball like they did against the Raiders and keep Rivers off the field. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce both go over their 1000 yard mark on the season as well. [Travis Steffen]
Chiefs 30, Chargers 17
Chargers haven’t beaten the Chiefs since Chase Daniel was filling in for a team that had already secured a playoff spot. Well Chase Daniel isn’t starting Saturday night and neither is any other Chiefs QB backup. Much to chagrin of some. Marcus Peters also makes his return and with Darrelle Revis in tow with Steven Nelson and Terrance Mitchell playing well. This might just be the best cornerback group the Chiefs have had in some time. Earlier this season the Chargers top two receivers had a combined 76 yards total, and this group has improved since then. This will be another rough day for Philip Rivers. [David Thomas]
Chiefs 30, Chargers 27
The Chiefs will beat the Chargers 30-27 in overtime Saturday night. The dominance the Chiefs defense showed against the Raiders on Sunday was a fluke. The Chargers will move the ball and put up points but they won’t just steam role either. I believe the Chiefs offense has found a bit of a groove and will continue to be solid. It will be a close game by two teams who are a lot alike, but I believe this will go into overtime and the Chiefs MVP Harrison Butker will kick the Chiefs into the AFC West title win. [Britt Zank]
Chargers 21, Chiefs 17
We’ve seen confident, downfield Alex Smith and skittish, hurried Alex Smith this season and even in successive weeks. If any team has the up-front muscle to force Smith to flip the switch back again to his conservative self, it’s the Chargers. A couple early hits from Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and company could lead to the Chiefs becoming their own worst enemy in the pocket. And if this defense gets tired, the Chargers will have no problems moving the chains even at Arrowhead. [Matt Conner]