The Chiefs have a chance to stay unbeaten in Week 6, and the matchup at home against the winless Chargers gives them several clear paths to do it.
Kansas City enters the game at 4-0 after a bye week, with Kenneth Walker leading the NFL in rushing yards per game and Patrick Mahomes sitting in the top 10 in passing yards per game. The Chiefs have also handled close games late, and Andy Reid’s track record after a bye only adds to the edge. He is 22-5 in his NFL career following a bye week.
The Chargers, meanwhile, arrive at 0-5, but this is still a division game, and Kansas City can’t treat it like a walk-through. The Chiefs will have to be sharp if they want to avoid giving a desperate opponent any opening.
One place to attack is the Chargers’ secondary, especially with Deane Leonard forced into a starting role because of injuries. Donte Jackson is injured and Derwin James is likely out, which gives Kansas City flexibility in how it attacks the back end.
The Chargers are rarely in man coverage and are willing to sit in zone nearly 75 percent of the time, often showing Cover 3. That setup puts Leonard on the outside third of the field, and the Chiefs should look to put Rashee Rice in position to win that matchup early.
The ground game should also remain a major part of the plan. The Chargers’ run defense sits in the bottom third of the league and has been a problem for years.
Walker has been a force, leading the NFL in broken tackles and ranking second in rushing yards despite playing one fewer game than most of the league. Kansas City should keep feeding him and lean into that advantage.
There’s also a clear opening on the Chargers’ offensive line, where injuries have created a vulnerable right side. Sixth-round pick Alex Harkey is set to start at right tackle in his second career start, lined up next to Cole Strange, who has struggled badly to open the season.
The Chiefs should overload their pass rush to their left and try to isolate Harkey and Strange. Felix Anudike-Uzomah has the kind of length and power conversion that can bother Harkey, while Chris Jones and Peter Woods should have opportunities against Strange.
Kansas City should also be willing to let this game breathe early. A four-man rush paired with zone coverage can force the Chargers to play slower, especially with Omarion Hampton struggling to start the season.
Herbert has thrown 7 interceptions, many of them while trying to force throws downfield, and the Chiefs can make him prove he can win without those mistakes. The longer Kansas City can keep the game on its terms, the better its chances of leaving Week 6 still undefeated.
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Chiefs Stayed Unbeaten But This Win Raised A Bigger Question
The Chiefs kept their unbeaten start rolling with a 22-6 win over the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium, a result that pushed them to 5-0 for just the sixth time in franchise history. It was the kind of division win that usually looks neat in the standings and messy in the film room, which is why the postgame report card leaned so heavily into the details of how Kansas City played on both sides of the ball.
Patrick Mahomes still guided the offense to another victory in a game that will count as a milestone in his career, but the bigger takeaway was on the other side of the ledger, where the defense controlled the night and left the Chargers searching for answers. With Kansas City now unbeaten and the AFC West race already taking shape, the lingering question is whether this was a complete performance or just another win that left more to sort out than the score suggested. [Read more 🡒]
Taylor Swift Just Added Another Wild Chiefs Game Day Twist
Taylor Swifts Chiefs game day presence has become part of the weekly theater around Arrowhead, but this one looked unlikely from the start. She had been slated to miss Kansas Citys home game against the Chargers after performing at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles the night before, a scheduling wrinkle that seemed to keep her away from Travis Kelces latest home date in front of the Chiefs crowd.
Instead, Swift made the trip to Kansas City and was there for the game, cheering from a VIP suite as the Chiefs took on Los Angeles. It was another reminder that even when the travel board says one thing, the scene around this team can change fast, and Swifts appearances continue to add a layer of attention to an already familiar Sunday backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Bieniemys Sideline Blowup Said Everything About Chiefs Offense
The Chiefs offense looked sluggish in the second half against the Chargers before Eric Bieniemy decided the sideline needed a reset. The offensive coordinator pulled the unit together for an impromptu meeting, a clear sign that the rhythm and urgency he wanted were not showing up on the field.
Whatever was said, Kansas City came out of it looking sharper and moved into Chargers territory soon after. The drive ended with a field goal, a small but useful spark in a game the Chiefs controlled on the way to a 22-6 win. [Read more 🡒]