Chiefs’ keys vs. Chargers: Win game you should win, don’t let Austin Ekeler run wild
The Kansas City Chiefs look to finish their regular season on a high note against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
The 11-4 Chiefs, winners of five games in a row, hold a 62-56-1 edge in these teams’ all-time series, including a Week 11 win over the Chargers (5-10) in Mexico City.
Over the past 11 meetings between the AFC rivals, the Chiefs have dominated, winning 10 straight. They hold a 27-20 edge in games played at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here are four key areas to monitor for the Chiefs, who seek their third 12-win season since head coach Andy Reid arrived in 2013:
Gotta handle your business
The Chiefs still have plenty to play for in this season finale. Postseason seeding remains in the balance.
A victory Sunday combined with a loss by the New England Patriots (12-3) against the Miami Dolphins (4-11) would boost the Chiefs to the AFC’s No. 2 seed and first-round bye. The Chiefs hold the tie-break scenario over the Patriots thanks to a Week 14 win in Foxborough, Mass.
Meanwhile, a Chiefs loss combined with a win by the Houston Texans (10-5) over the Tennessee Titans (8-7) would hand the Chiefs the No. 4 seed.
The Chiefs and Patriots play at the same time, while the Texans and Titans kick off in the late-afternoon slot.
So, what’s the bottom line for the Chiefs? Steer clear of scoreboard-watching and take care of business against the Chargers and everything else will sort itself out.
By the way, a thing about destiny — “(insert team-name here) controls their own destiny” is a favorite sports cliche. Destiny, by definition is predetermined, so (insert team name) doesn’t control it.
Chiefs’ defense against Rivers
The Chargers’ season derailed early, but it would be difficult to place the full blame on their quarterback.
Philip Rivers currently ranks third in passing with 4,334 yards. The Chargers’ aerial attack ranks sixth in the league at 277.9 yards per game.
Of the Chargers’ 10 losses, nine have come by seven points or fewer, including Week 11’s 24-17 defeat to the Chiefs. Rivers remains good enough to keep the Chargers in the game, and he still has plenty of receiving weapons at his disposal.
Turnovers have been Rivers’ downfall. He has 16 interceptions in L.A.’s 10 losses this season, including four in Week 11, against 12 touchdown passes. He has 21 touchdowns and 18 interceptions overall this season.
The Chargers’ quarterback should find the going tough against a stout Chiefs defense that has held opponents to 17 or fewer points in five straight games.
Corral this running back
The Chiefs did a decent job of clamping down on the Chargers’ running game in Week 11, holding Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler to a combined 93 yards rushing on 19 carries.
But Ekeler gave the Chiefs’ defense fits in the passing game, totaling eight catches for 108 yards on 12 targets.
The third-year pro is one of the NFL’s top receiving threats out of the backfield. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound back has 83 catches for 950 yards and eight touchdowns on an eye-popping 97 targets. He’s Rivers’ preferred safety valve.
Making adjustments and knowing where Ekeler lines up on every snap should be a top priority for the Chiefs’ defense — especially the linebackers and secondary.
Get in the end zone
The Chiefs enjoyed success in the red zone against the Chicago Bears last Sunday, scoring three touchdowns from inside the 20-yard line.
But the Chiefs still rank 23rd in red-zone touchdown percentage (53.1).
Having a healthy Damien Williams in the backfield helps. The threat of the run keeps a defense honest, and Williams scored on a 6-yard toss from quarterback Patrick Mahomes against the Bears.
The Chiefs should find an exploitable matchup Sunday. The Chargers’ defense ranks 21st in red-zone touchdown percentage, at 59 percent.
Punching in the ball for six on every red-zone trip, and not settling for field goals, will go a long way toward ensuring that the Chiefs close out the regular season on a six-game winning streak.
This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
