Chiefs vs. Chargers: A High-Stakes Rematch with Playoff Implications
With their season hanging in the balance, the Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for a pivotal showdown this Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The opponent? A familiar one - the Los Angeles Chargers, who stunned Kansas City all the way back in Week 1 with a game plan that caught everyone off guard.
That opener in São Paulo, Brazil, was supposed to showcase a new-look Chargers offense under Jim Harbaugh - one that leaned heavily on the run, especially after drafting UNC star Omarion Hampton in the first round. But what the Chiefs got instead was a curveball.
Harbaugh opened that game with three straight passes from Justin Herbert, not even dialing up a run until the Chargers were deep in the red zone. It was a bold move that paid off early, and Kansas City’s defense - with no film to study on the revamped L.A. offense - was left scrambling.
“I remember going into that game thinking, ‘Hey, they’ll try to control the football with the run game,’ and boom,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said this week. “They came out, and I think that first drive, they might have run it twice, a couple in the red zone.
We’ll see. They do both really effectively.”
That unpredictability has remained a theme for the Chargers all season. Despite the Harbaugh reputation for smashmouth football, L.A.’s pass-play rate (57.9%) is nearly identical to Kansas City’s (58.8%).
But there’s been a subtle shift lately. Over the past three games, the Chargers have leaned slightly more into the run - 53% of their plays - a move that lines up with Hampton’s return to the lineup after missing time due to injury.
“They got (Hampton) back, who was hurt,” Spagnuolo noted. “They believe in running the football, so I don’t think we can ever discount that they’re not just going to line up and do what they do running the football.
But certainly, the quarterback is an issue - both with his arm and with his feet. I think he’s playing outstanding.”
Herbert’s dual-threat ability remains a major concern, especially when paired with a receiving corps that brings a little bit of everything. That Week 1 opener saw him carve up the Chiefs early, including a 5-yard touchdown strike to Quentin Johnston. And that’s just one weapon.
Ladd McConkey brings the quick-twitch route running, Keenan Allen is still the savvy, reliable veteran, and rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden adds a dynamic presence over the middle.
“What one might be lacking in speed, the other makes up for in quickness,” Spagnuolo said. “They’re all different challenges.
Our nickels, when they line up against a certain guy, they study what each guy likes to do - certain ones are wiggle guys (McConkey), certain ones go (straight). They got ‘em all.
Crafty vet (Allen), too, who’s really good. He’s playing really good, I think.”
Next Man Up in the Secondary
The Chiefs’ defense has been one of the league’s most consistent units this season, but it took a hit last week when top cornerback Trent McDuffie exited the game with an ankle injury. That forced Jaylen Watson into the spotlight - and he didn’t flinch.
Once McDuffie was ruled out, Watson stepped up and made it clear: he wanted the assignment of tracking Texans wideout Nico Collins, just like McDuffie had been doing.
“He wanted to then travel with what Trent was doing with No. 12 without batting an eyelash,” Spagnuolo said. “Some guys might kind of hide (and say), ‘Don’t put me over there,’ but he did a pretty good job of it.”
Watson backed it up on the field - Collins was targeted twice against him and came up empty both times.
“I just stepped up, embraced the challenge,” Watson said. “Trent usually follows the ones, and Nohl (Williams) is still a rookie, so I just wanted to do what I could to help the team.”
There’s optimism that McDuffie might return this week - he practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and was back out there Thursday. But if he can’t go, Watson’s ready. And he’s not alone.
“Like we always have: next man up,” Watson said. “We trust every man in the room, so whoever’s number is called - whether it’s Nohl, Josh (Williams), Chris (Roland-Wallace) - I think they’ll be ready.”
A Season-Defining Moment
That Week 1 loss - once just a surprising blip - now looms large with the Chiefs running out of time. The stakes are clear: win, and keep the playoff hopes alive. Lose, and the road gets a lot tougher.
The good news? Kansas City now has the film.
Spagnuolo’s defense, known for its adaptability, won’t be walking into the unknown this time. They’ve seen what the Chargers can do - both through the air and on the ground - and they know what’s at stake.
They’ll need to be sharp. Disciplined.
Aggressive. Because this isn’t just another game.
This is a must-win moment for a team that’s been built for these kinds of moments.
And if the Chiefs want to keep their postseason dreams alive, they’ll have to prove they’ve learned from Week 1 - and that they’re ready to flip the script.