The two top teams in the AFC square off on Thursday Night Football when Philip Rivers and the Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) visit Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (11-2).
The AFC West title is still in play with the LA Chargers trailing the Chiefs by a game. The Chiefs already qualified for the postseason and currently hold home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Chargers have the Wild Card (almost) locked up.
The bookmakers in Las Vegas at the South Point Casino currently have the Chiefs as 4-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. The Chargers are 6-1 favorites.
LA Chargers (10-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-2)
Kickoff: 5:20pm PT
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Point Spread: KC -3.5
Over/Under: 53
Two of the top five offenses in the NFL face each other on a short week. KC has one of the worst defenses in the league, allowing 27 points per game.
The Chargers have a better defense than everyone expects, allowing only 20.8 points per game. They will be tasked with trying to stop the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL. The Chiefs average 36.2 points per game.
These two teams met in the first week of the season and the Chiefs won 38-28. Thirteen weeks later, the Chargers are a much better team and won nine of their last ten games.
Head of the Class
What can you say about Patrick Mahomes that hasn’t been said? Mahomes (43 touchdowns plus 2 rushing scores) leads the NFL in nearly every passing category. It’s almost a disappointment when he doesn’t throw four touchdown a game (which he’s done seven times).
The Jacksonville Jaguars nearly pitched a shutout against Mahomes back in October. Although they held Mahomes to zero passing touchdowns, he managed to scramble into the end zone for a rushing touchdown.
Post-Hunt
In the shootout against the Rams, RB Kareem Hunt produced 111 yards from scrimmage. He ran for 70 yards and scored a receiving touchdown. That marked his final game with the Chiefs. When TMZ leaked the incriminating tape of Hunt later that week, they immediately cut their star running back.
Former starter Spencer Ware stepped back into the main RB role. In his first start, Ware rushed for 47 yards against the Oakland Raiders but played a minimal role in the passing game. In his second start against the Baltimore Ravens, Ware contributed 129 combined yards with 75 on the ground. Ware has yet to find the end zone, but in a small sample size, he’s proven to be an effective replacement.
Meanwhile, third-stringer Damien Williams also filled in for Hunt. The fifth-year back out of Oklahoma added 70 total yards of combined offense in two games. Williams scored two touchdowns against the Ravens with a rushing and receiving score.
Banged Up Bolts
Melvin Gordon has been sidelined with a sprained knee the last few weeks. The Chargers wanted to be cautious and rest Gordon as much as possible before the playoffs.
Backup RB Austin Ekeler was the next man up in the rotation, until he suffered a concussion. He’s out this week.
Now it’s up to Justin Jackson to step up. The rookie from Northwestern started the season on the practice squad and has since been promoted to third stringer, then to backup, and now to starter. Jackson is no slouch. He rushed for 1,000 yards in all four seasons at Northwestern, which he achieved against Big Ten competition.
Rivers MVP?
You can make a strong argument for Philip Rivers as a worthy MVP candidate. Even if he’s flying under the radar this season, opposing coaches studying game tape know Rivers has been on fire.
“I think he’s probably playing right now as well as he’s ever played,” said KC defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. “He’s a dynamic guy. I’ve said this about him a lot, for whatever reason, he doesn’t get mentioned with some of these other quarterbacks. His numbers and his importance to his team are second to none.”
The Chargers have a shaky kicking game. They cut Mike Badgley and Caleb Sturgis in consecutive weeks after terrible performances. There’s no shortage of memes and gifs of a disappointed and angry Rivers chastising kickers when they miss.
#Chargers scored a touchdown and a returning Caleb Sturgis misses the extra point and QB Philip Rivers is livid. Chargers cut Mike Badgley earlier in the week.
Seattle up 7-6. #LACvsSEA pic.twitter.com/ic9NEIyklD— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) November 4, 2018
Without a reliable kicking game and Melvin Gordon missing games with injuries, Rivers has been the one constant that the Chargers can rely on.
Rivers (3,638 yards, 29 TDs, and 6 INT) is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes this season. He’s fourth overall in touchdowns and third in QB rating. He’s already thrown more touchdown strikes than last season. His career-best is 34 back in 2008 and he only needs five more touchdowns in three games to match that feat.
In their first meeting in Week 1, Rivers torched the Chiefs’ secondary for 424 yards and three touchdowns.
