KC Chiefs schedule: Previewing primetime games for 2022
By Matt Conner
Week 2, Chiefs vs. Chargers – Thursday Night Football
The Chiefs are fortunate to get the Houston Texans on the front end of the schedule as an opening game because they’ll be hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week before serving as the initial Thursday Night Football matchup on Amazon.
The first real test (of many) on the season for both teams comes early and perhaps this game will serve as an important win in what should be the most competitive AFC West race in years.
Justin Herbert and company are always a tough out for the Chiefs and have served as the only real competition in the division in the last half-decade. This year, they’ve gone all-in on trying to upend the Chiefs by signing cornerback J.C. Jackson away from the New England Patriots in free agency and trading for one of the league’s most feared pass rushers in the league.
What has been lost in the casual coverage of the offseason is just how much improved the Chargers’ run defense will be in ’22 with the underrated signings of defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson along with linebacker Troy Reeder.
The Bolts were already loaded on offense with Herbert throwing to a pair of now-$20 million receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but this defense has been significantly improved as well. Expect a battle for four full quarters, which is exactly why the NFL threw this game into early primetime.