Chiefs prediction: No Rivers to pick on (or pick off) this time against the Chargers
The Chiefs-Chargers series has been all over the map recently, literally. Since 2016, the teams have played Chargers home games in San Diego, Mexico City and Carson, California.
Wherever the location, Chiefs fans have turned the meeting into a destination and swoop up tickets by the thousands. That will be different for the fourth different location in five years on Sunday when the teams meet in the second game played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Kickoff: 3:25 p.m. (Central)
TV/radio: CBS (Ch. 5), WDAF (106.5 FM)
Line: Chiefs by 8 1/2
Blair Kerkhoff’s prediction: Chiefs, 27-20
The Chiefs have won 11 of the last 12 in the series, but last season they needed an end zone interception by Daniel Sorensen to seal the victory in Mexico and were outgained by 128 yards that night. The Chargers outgained the Chiefs in both regular-season games last season.
This marks the first meeting without Philip Rivers as the Chargers quarterback. He gave the Chiefs fits early in his career, then gave them the ball in later years. The Chiefs picked him off six times in two games last season. Tyrod Taylor leads a more ground-and-pound attack, which could keep things interesting for a while. He’s played well against the Chiefs in his career.
In the end, however, Patrick Mahomes will find a way to add to the series recent lopsidedness.