Five things to know about the Chiefs’ next opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Chiefs fans won’t be taking over a Chargers home game this season.
In the last couple of years, the stands at Chargers-Chiefs games in California have been full of red-clad fans cheering for the opposing team.
The Chargers, 1-0 will play their first game at SoFi Stadium this Sunday against the Chiefs, 1-0, but because of COVID-19 restrictions there will be no fans in the stands.
Each week I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here are five things to know about the Chargers ahead of Sunday’s game, which kicks off at 3:25 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS (Ch. 5) with Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson on the call:
1. New quarterback
The Chiefs don’t have quarterback Philip Rivers to kick around anymore.
Rivers was a free agent after last season and signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers drafted Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft. But the starting job belongs to former Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
In Sunday’s 16-13 win over the Bengals, Taylor completed 16 of 30 passes for 208 yards. He ran six times for just 7 yards.
2. Nice debut, kid
Chiefs fans are familiar with Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, who has averaged 5.8 yards per attempt in five career games against Kansas City. On Sunday, Ekeler had 84 rushing yards in 13 attempts (4.4 ypg) against Cincinnati.
Rookie Joshua Kelley had 60 yards in 12 carries (5.0 ypc) and the Chargers’ only touchdown. Kelley, who was taken in the fourth round, also broke open a 26-yard run.
3. Top targets
A shoulder injury left star receiver Michael Williams’ status for the opener in doubt in the days leading up to the game. But he played and was targeted a team-high nine times with four catches for 69 yards.
Tight end Hunter Henry had five catches for 73 yards.
The Chargers’ offensive line was missing two starters on Sunday: Center Mike Pouncey (hip) and guard Trai Turner (knee).
4. A new defensive star?
The Chargers had three sacks, five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and a forced fumble on Sunday. Also, defensive lineman Melvin Ingram intercepted a shovel pass from the Bengals’ Joe Burrow that stopped a late drive with LA up by three.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has called Bosa and Ingram two of the best pass rushers he’s faced.
Uchenna Nwosu and Jerry Tillery also had sacks, and Tillery is a player to keep an eye on. That’s according to Ingram.
“Jerry’s potential is so high,” Ingram told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I feel like more and more he gets reps … he’s really going to become a player in this league.”
LA linebacker Drue Tranquill had to be carted off in Sunday’s game and the Chargers fear he has a broken ankle, Pro Football Talk reported.
5. Special teams
The Chargers’ Joe Reed had just one kickoff return, but he took it back 46 yards. That gave Los Angeles great field position in the third quarter and they went on to score a game-tying touchdown.
The Chargers have had kicking woes in the past, but Michael Badgley made three of four of his attempts on Sunday. His lone miss was from 50 yards out.
