The Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals share a parking lot out at Truman Sports Complex. However, the Royals devil magic that powered them to the World Series has slowly moved across the parking lot. After all, supernatural forces are among the most popular theories behind the Chiefs 11-1 record. But the visiting 8-4 Los Angeles Chargers will try and push Kansas City's loss record from singular to plural this week.
The marquee AFC West matchup takes place on Sunday Nigt Football and could lock up the division with a Kansas City victory. The Charges and Denver Broncos are both eight-win teams right now, but the Chiefs elevating to 12-1 with four weeks to go would the end of the division race. Kansas City's run atop the AFC West is one of football's best ever, putting the Broncos dominant run with quarterback Peyton Manning as a distant memory.
After last Friday's fluky win, how are our writers feeling about this week's matchup? What should fans be watching for?
Patrick Allen
The Chiefs are obviously in trouble. They currently seem incapable of playing a complete football game. The tackles are a mess, and the defense is regressing. After nearly losing to two of the league's worst teams in Carolina and Las Vegas, it is hard to imagine the Chiefs beating the red-hot Chargers. KC got by the last two weeks on a bit of luck and mistakes from their opponents. LA is too well coached to shoot themselves in the foot. Until the Chiefs find their identity, I can't pick them against a quality opponent. Time for KC to hit rock bottom.
Chargers 31, Chiefs 20
Matt Conner
I’m a big believer in what Jim Harbaugh is doing and think the Chargers will give the Chiefs fits in the future. But they’re banged up, and it’s possible J.K. Dobbins, Ladd McConkey, and Cam Hart are all out with the defense already banged up. At some point, the tightrope act becomes too much for the Chiefs, but not this week.
Chiefs 20, Chargers 18
Braden Holecek
This is going to be one of the more challenging games left on the regular season schedule. Kansas City has to be able to play more complete games and create better protection for Patrick Mahomes. Can the defense get back to playing more under control, as well? Overall, I am watching to see how the Kansas City pass defense performs and which names stand out among the defensive backs. Can certain players not named Trent McDuffie secure roles moving forward? How the secondary plays is worth monitoring.
Chiefs 24, Chargers 20
Felix Johnson
The Chargers should beat the Chiefs on Sunday night. Kids should do their homework. I should drive a Lamborghini. The Chiefs defense needs to step it up after the last few weeks, and DJ Humprhies needs to start to alleviate all our worries.
Chiefs 27, Chargers 17
Jacob Milham
This is not your daddy's Chargers team, and you aren't hearing that in the offseason, so you should believe it. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has his squad firmly in the playoff picture, and a sputtering Kansas City team seems like a perfect statement game for him. Availability of cornerback Cam Hart and wide receiver Ladd McConkey will be an intriguing topic to watch, but Los Angeles sets the tone early and wins this game in the trenches.
Chargers 27, Chiefs 20
Shawn O'Brate
Too many games have come down to the wire this season. I know it, you know it, Mahomes knows it and everyone on the sideline knows it. With that in mind I think the Chiefs start out the game throwing haymakers and hoping one or two connect. Whether that's long rainbows to Xavier Worthy or some trick plays from the crazy mind of Andy Reid, it doesn't matter. I think Kansas City finally gets up early on a divisional opponent before doing what they do best and taking their foot off the gas with a few mistakes littered in there. LA catches up but Kansas City proves they love the pressure at the end of the game, just like they have for most of the last two years, winning late but winning nonetheless.
Chiefs 28, Chargers 24
Charles Robinson
Do the Chiefs have flaws? Yes. Have the last two games been far too close for comfort? Certainly. But I've turned a tide mentally and am convinced they are still the class of the league and will clinch their 9th consecutive AFC West title in convincing fashion Sunday night against the Chargers.
Chiefs 33, Chargers 20
Stacy D. Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs host a familiar foe in a nationally televised affair on Sunday. The LA Chargers come to town fresh off a four-point victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Over the past three weeks, the Bolts have surrendered 328 rushing yards to the trio of Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, and Chase Brown. The Chiefs will exploit that with a hefty dose of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Without their own starter in the backfield, I anticipate some offensive inconsistency from the Chargers. Mahomes has a bounceback game, the Chiefs defensive front harasses Justin Herbert, and the Chiefs win again.
Chiefs 24, Chargers 20
Lucas Strozinsky
At this point, expecting the Chiefs to win by more than a field goal is just greedy. The Chiefs will win, but it'll be very ugly once again.
Chiefs 26, Chargers 25