Chiefs’ Travis Kelce believes this Chargers team is more fearsome than in past
The Chargers have made the postseason just twice in the last 10 years, but with an 8-4 record this season, they are in prime position to make the playoffs.
A year ago, the Chargers won just five games and finished last in the AFC West. But new head coach Jim Harbaugh has the team playing well heading into Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs have won the last six meetings between the teams, including a 17-10 victory at SoFi Stadium in September. But Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said these aren’t the same old Chargers, who have won just three of the past 20 meetings with KC.
This year’s version is more fearsome than in the past.
“The Chargers, they’re a new team. They are way more motivated and a way more focused team than I thought they were in past years,” Kelce said this week on the New Heights podcast. “And sure enough, their quarterback is playing really ... good right now, and that defense has got some absolute beasts that we got to be ready for.
“They’re playing with some ... heart, and I hadn’t seen that in the Chargers in a long time.”
The Chiefs already have clinched a winning record against AFC West opponents this season at 4-0.
Kelce relishes games against the Chiefs’ divisional rivals and not just because KC has won eight straight AFC West titles.
“I don’t think it matters where we play them. I’ll play them in the ... CBS parking lot, man,” Kelce said. “I love the divisional games. It’s a whole new sense of competitiveness. And it’s a whole new focus. The intricacies of the game, the fundamentals, the what move did I use last time? What play did we use last time? What look did we give them last time? All those things start to play a little bit more, and it’s even more of a chess match.
“It’s the closest thing to a playoff football game that I feel like you really get. And when there’s a playoff potential team in your division that you’re playing, like the Chargers, or like the Broncos we have at the end of the year, it makes it even more exciting. It’s exciting to get ready for these games, man.”
