Chiefs vs. Chargers: Encouraging signs and troubling takeaways from Week 2

Chiefs’ pass rush struggled against offensive line starters

If given ample time to throw, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will always make opposing defenses pay the price. Unfortunately, the Chiefs pass rush did little in the first half to harass Herbert who looked quite comfortable. It wasn’t until the second half however that the Chargers began to sustain inures to their offensive line. Center Corey Linsley didn’t play in the second half and tackle Trey Pipkins left deep into the third quarter. For the Chiefs pass rushers, it seemed to be a tale of two halves.  Herbert appeared to be under consistent duress in the second half and eventually sustained a rib injury in the fourth quarter.

Good things happen when you’re able to get to the opposing team’s quarterback. In the Chargers’ last six drives they punted four times, threw a pick-six to Watson, and scored a touchdown following a nine-play drive in garbage time. In particular, Chris Jones ended the game with an impressive stat line to the tune of five pressures and two sacks. In the future, the Chiefs’ defensive line needs to prove that it can generate pressure early and against opposing offensive lines. Hopefully, the unit can pick up where it left off and continues to build upon the momentum of the second half.

Looking down the road

As the Chiefs remain undefeated to start the year, expectations within Chiefs Kingdom remain lofty as the team gears up to make its third Super Bowl of the Mahomes era. The Chiefs face an extremely tough schedule, conference, and division, yet the pair of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes represents a threat to any team in the league. Throughout the year we should expect the new roster additions to become better acquainted with the schemes put forth by the KC coaching staff. While this will be good news for Chiefs fans, it presents a scary realization for the rest of the NFL: the six-time reigning AFC West Champions aren’t going anywhere.