KC Chiefs: Getting to know the Los Angeles Chargers before week 2
By Cullen Jekel
The Chargers defense seemed to keep the receiving duo of A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd in check, limiting them to a combined nine receptions for 84 yards. How’d the D accomplish that?
“The secondary and pass-rush are stout. They actually usually have relatively good success against the Chiefs. Yes, they lost both games last year, but if we remove the points that the Chiefs scored off of bad Philip Rivers interceptions then we can see that the Chiefs did not score as much against the Chargers D as they are capable of scoring.”
In the Chiefs’ Week 1 victory, they played a little bit of smash-mouth football, adding a rushing attack that seemed rather absent last season. What’ll be key for the Chargers defense to slow down the Chiefs’ potent offense?
“Two names: Linval Joseph and Kenneth Murray. Both are new to the defense and both really helped the run defense in Week 1 against Joe Mixon, who is a formidable back himself. If those two can continue to play well then the Chargers can contain Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He will still pick up his 60+ yards most likely, but the goal with the Chiefs is always to limit them, not stop them… stopping them is kind of impossible.”
Name a player on offense who needs to step it up on Week 2 for the Chargers to get to 2-0.
“Tyrod Taylor. The Chargers do not win this game with the effort he produced against the Cincinnati Bengals.”
What’s your prediction for the game?
“I really do not like the Chargers offensive scheme with Tyrod right now but I do think they will hold KC to a relatively modest night (for KC’s standards). I just do not see how this offense can keep up, quite frankly. 27-13, Chiefs.”
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Thanks again to Jason Reed from Bolt Beat for taking the time to answer some questions so we can all better know Sunday’s opponent. Of course, with these two teams in the AFC West, we’ll be talking with Jason again down the road.