Opponent Profile: Chargers Look To Continue Momentum, Host Chiefs Sunday
By Dave Thomas
There have been five straight victories for the San Diego Chargers. Yes, things are looking pretty good in America's Finest City.
With that said, the tests become much more difficult over the next week, with two games against two of their biggest rivals in a span of only five days beginning this Sunday.
Both fans and members of the San Diego Chargers will have a much better idea of just how good this team sitting at 5-1 really is late in the evening hours of Oct. 23. That is after the Chargers visit the Mile High City for a Thursday night encounter with the Denver Broncos.
Following a hard-fought 31-28 win Sunday in Oakland, the Chargers turned their attention to division rival number two: The Kansas City Chiefs.
While the Chargers have been pretty successful against the Chiefs in recent times (San Diego has won the last four meetings), Kansas City (2-3) is still a dangerous foe for the Bolts, especially having had this past weekend off.
Kansas City Wants To Be In Division Hunt
Although the Chiefs are sitting in third place at the moment (two games back of second place Denver), they will likely bring their A game to San Diego this Sunday, knowing a win over the Chargers gets them right back in the AFC West race.
Despite their heartbreaking playoff loss in Indianapolis a season ago, the Chiefs are still viewed as a threat in the AFC West race, though San Diego and Denver have managed to separate themselves from the Chiefs and Raiders to this point.
Under head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City QB Alex Smith has flourished for the most part, throwing for 1,049 yards and eight touchdowns to date this season. His top threat via the air is tight end Travis Kelce, who has 274 yards receiving and three scores in five games.
On the ground, it is no surprise who will get the bulk of the carries, as Jamaal Charles (195 yards rushing, one TD) appears to be back in form after missing the first several games of the season with an injury. In his absence and since his return, Knile Davis has paced the Kansas City rushing attack with 327 yards and three TDs.
Defensively, Kansas City turns to left inside linebacker Josh Mauga (36 total tackles) and left outside linebacker Justin Houston (six sacks).
Given these two rivals have met for decades, it is no surprise that there is no love lost between the two franchises, with the Chargers holding a 55-52-1 lead in the all-time series.
With much on the line for both teams come Sunday, strap on the helmets and let's watch two old rivals go head-to-head for 60 minutes.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
