Three games in, the AFC West already looks like it has a team everybody else can circle on the schedule. That team is the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Kansas City Chiefs appear to be in position to take advantage.
The Chargers are 0-3, and Sunday only deepened the damage. They went on the road against the Buffalo Bills, built a 10-0 lead, then watched it disappear in a 24-16 loss. That came even with Buffalo coughing up five turnovers, which makes the result look even uglier for Los Angeles.
Justin Herbert’s play has become the center of the mess. According to Kris Rhim of ESPN, Herbert looks like “a shell of himself” in the offense of new coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Against Buffalo, Herbert finished with 226 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception, and Bills defenders also dropped two chances at picks. The quarterback’s decision-making has drawn heat, including from Fox analyst Tom Brady, who said, “poor awareness, poor decision.
Throws him a meatball sub.”
Jim Harbaugh, meanwhile, has been on a strange public journey with his quarterback. The Chargers coach has repeatedly praised Herbert during the slump, calling him “the greatest quarterback of all time,” and saying he wishes he could trade genes with him because of how perfect a player and person he is.
After the Bills game, though, his message was much shorter: “be better.” Harbaugh later softened that a bit, saying the push to improve applies to himself, McDaniel and the entire organization.
The problems are not staying confined to one side of the ball, either. Signs of friction have surfaced between the offense and the defense, another ugly marker for where this season is headed. Star safety Derwin James has called out the sloppy play after the Chargers’ 27-13 loss to the Raiders, though he did not point the finger directly at Herbert.
For the Chiefs, the setup is obvious. They have two games left against a Chargers team that looks vulnerable, disjointed and sliding fast.
In Other News...
Kelce Brothers Are Adding A New Twist To Chiefs Game Day
The Chiefs will spend their bye week getting ready for a return to Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 18, when they host the Chargers in a game that already has a little extra buzz around it. Before kickoff, fans headed to the Truman Sports Complex will have a new option to fill the hours, thanks to a New Heights tailgate set for Lot M from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring free food, games and a DJ.
The event is another sign of how much game day around the Chiefs has become its own experience, especially with Travis and Jason Kelce leaning into the family brand they have built around their podcast. Travis Kelce will not be part of the tailgate, since he will be focused on preparing to play that night, but the setup still gives fans a fresh pregame gathering point as the Chiefs get back to work after the bye. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reids Quirky Chiefs Rule Says A Lot About Team Standards
Andy Reid has never been a coach who leaves much to guesswork, and one of his more memorable Chiefs standards says plenty about how he runs the room. In a recent interview with Jason Garrett, Reid explained that Kansas City players are not allowed to wear tank tops in the dining hall, a rule tied to keeping the salad bar clean. It is a small detail, but it fits the larger point: Reids teams tend to live on order, accountability and the idea that even the little things matter.
What stands out is not just the rule itself, but the way Reid handles it. He said he believes in explaining the reason behind every guideline so players understand the expectation instead of simply being told to follow it. For a veteran coach with plenty of credibility, that approach helps reinforce the kind of team culture the Chiefs have tried to build, one rooted in respect, focus and shared standards rather than vague do-as-I-say demands. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Already Look Like A Bigger Problem Than Expected
Through the first three weeks of the NFL season, Kansas City has already looked every bit like the kind of problem opponents hoped to avoid. The Chiefs entered the year with some offseason concerns hanging over them, but their strong start has quickly pushed them into the conversation with the leagues most reliable early teams. In a league still settling in, they have again shown the sort of steadiness that makes September feel a little misleading.
Across the rest of the league, other surprises have helped frame just how serious the Chiefs start has been. The Giants have banked encouraging home wins even while dealing with quarterback injuries, and Minnesota has stayed unbeaten behind a defense that has carried the load through offensive struggles. Cleveland, meanwhile, has stumbled out of the gate under new coaching, which only sharpens the contrast with Kansas City and raises the question of how much better the Chiefs can still get. [Read more 🡒]