A win is a win in the NFL. However weird or poor it looks, a win counts all the same. That's the mentality it felt like the Kansas City Chiefs took today, capturing their fifth straight victory to start the season. They defeated the Los Angeles Chargers by three possessions on a score of 22-6.
Coming into the game, it was clear LA was outmatched and that the Chiefs, coming off a bye and relatively healthy, should have done exactly what they did today. Win. So they did, but it certainly didn't look or feel great. Particularly due to the growing offensive concerns and consistently horrid special teams play.
Nevertheless, the Chiefs hold firm control over the AFC West with a win against all three divisional opponents as well as the Las Vegas Raiders suffering their third straight loss after starting 3-0. They now turn their focus and prep to travel to Seattle to take on the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, whose defense should give Patrick Mahomes a variety of problems to solve.
What we learned in Chiefs Week 6 rout of the Chargers
It's clear Andy Reid did not respect LA
The Chiefs outgained the Chargers 422 yards to 259. It was the quietest 400-plus-yard game you might ever see because, in essence, the Chiefs should have scored double what they did. Andy Reid decided to call the game ultra-conservative, punting the ball on 4th & 2 on the Chargers' 43-yard line when the Chiefs could have gone up two possessions.
He did not have Mahomes throw the ball downfield a whole lot and frankly, relied on Matt Araiza to pin the Chargers deep and the defense to do its thing. It worked out in the end, but it just was not a pretty sight to see an offense clearly lacking in creative and aggressive play calling, as well as personnel shortages along the offensive line and at the wide receiver position.
Steve Spagnuolo and the Chiefs pass-rush clamped down on Justin Herbert
Kansas City's defense allowed its lowest point total all season so far, limiting the Chargers to just two Cameron Dicker field goals and zero trips to the end zone. Even when it was 1st & Goal from the one-yard line, the Chiefs were able to keep LA from scoring six.
The Chiefs ended their month-long sacks drought by getting Herbert down four times, batting away seven of his passes, and forcing two turnovers. They held Herbert to just 5.51 passing yards per attempt, allowing the Chargers' longest rush for nine yards
Special teams is going to cost the Chiefs a game
Harrison Butker went 3-for-4 from field goals today, making an impressive 50-yarder with ease but missing a 52-yarder early in the fourth quarter. He also continued the baffling extra-point mishaps that he suffered from last season. Butker has become seriously inconsistent and unreliable.
As for the return game, Nikko Remigio may as well just stayed home. He fumbled on one of his punt returns, deciding to return the ball for no good reason when the Chiefs would have had it on the plus side of the field. Remigio has already been phased out of kick return duties by rookie running back Emmett Johnson, and today's blunders should have cost him his job.
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