Chargers caught Chiefs off-guard in Week 1. Can’t happen again with season on line
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chargers’ pass-heavy Week 1 attack in São Paulo caught Chiefs off guard.
- Chargers maintain 57.9% pass rate; Chiefs 58.8%; trend complicates planning.
- Chiefs must adjust coverage, lean on returning McDuffie and next-man depth.
This Sunday, with their playoff lives on the line, the Kansas City Chiefs welcome the Los Angeles Chargers back to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs last saw the Chargers 14 weeks ago in a showcase season opener in São Paulo, Brazil. L.A. had been billed as a heavy, Jim Harbaugh–style run-first operation, especially after taking UNC standout Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But with no film to study against a retooled offense, a pass-happy Chargers attack caught the Chiefs’ defense completely off-guard and overwhelmed. Harbaugh began the game with three straight pass calls for Justin Herbert, not dialing up a run until the 20-yard line.
“I remember going into that game thinking, ‘Hey, they’ll try to control the football with the run game,’ and boom,” Steve Spagnuolo said Thursday. “They came out, and I think that first drive, they might have run it twice, a couple in the red zone. We’ll see. They do both really effectively.”
Perhaps quietly, the Chargers have kept a similar identity over the course of the entire season. L.A.’s season-long pass-play rate (57.9%) nearly mirrors that of KC (58.8%). But over the course of the last three games, Harbaugh has leaned slightly run-heavy at 53%, a shift that has coincided with Hampton’s return from a long absence.
“They got (Hampton) back, who was hurt,” Spagnuolo said. “They believe in running the football, so I don’t think we can ever discount that they’re not just going to just line up and do what they do running the football, but certainly, the quarterback is an issue — both with his arm and with his feet. I think he’s playing outstanding.”
The result of that Week 1 opening drive was 47 passing yards, including a 5-yard touchdown to receiver Quentin Johnston — just one threat in a receiving corps that includes the speedy Ladd McConkey, reliable, familiar target Keenan Allen and dynamic rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden.
“What one might be lacking in speed, the other makes up for quickness,” Spagnuolo said. “They’re all different challenges, and so our nickels, when they line up against a certain guy, they study what each guy likes to do — certain ones are wiggle guys (McConkey), certain ones go (straight).
“They got ‘em all. Crafty vet (Allen), too, who’s really good. He’s playing really good, I think.”
Replacing Trent McDuffie on the fly
In Kansas City’s loss against the Houston, top cornerback Trent McDuffie left with an ankle injury, which meant Jaylen Watson slid into the lead role.
Once the Chiefs determined McDuffie was done for the day, Watson immediately informed the defensive staff he intended to follow Texans star Nico Collins.
“He wanted to then travel with what Trent was doing with No. 12 without batting an eyelash,” Spagnuolo said. “Some guys might kind of hide (and say), ‘Don’t put me over there,’ but he did a pretty good job of it.”
Collins’ two targets against Watson fell incomplete.
“I just stepped up, embraced the challenge,” Watson said Thursday in the locker room. “You know —Trent usually follows the ones, and Nohl (Williams) is still a rookie, so I just wanted to do what I could to help the team.”
The Chiefs are hopeful McDuffie can return this week (he practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and was out there Thursday). In a do-or-die situation, they’ll need every available body.
But in the case McDuffie can’t go, Watson remains confident in the room.
“Like we always have: next man up,” Watson said. “We trust every man in the room, so whoever’s number is called — whether it’s Nohl, Josh (Williams), Chris (Roland-Wallace) — I think they’ll be ready.”
Nobody could have predicted it at the time, but the Week 1 loss now looms large with Kansas City running out of games. The added film suggests Spagnuolo’s unit should be far better prepared this time around.
Of course, it has to be.
