The last time the Chargers beat the Chiefs was the last game of the 2013 season. It was also the game that put the Bolts into the playoffs the last time they made the playoffs.
Since then Kansas City has won eight straight meetings and Team Spanos has underperformed itself into four consecutive non-playoff years. Might this be the season both of those streaks end?
The Chargers beating the Chiefs in Sunday’s 2018 season opener would be a big help. Here are three matchups to watch at SnubHub Center:
Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill vs. Chargers S Derwin James
Barring injury James is not going to be covering Hill one-on-one. But Hill has borderline Olympic speed. There are maybe a handful of guys in the league who can run stride for stride with him and now that he has the cannon-armed Patrick Mahomes at quarterback Hill is going to try and simply run past everyone. James has rare speed and size and it will be up to him to make sure the speedster doesn’t get over the top of big plays. Will James be up to the challenge in his first NFL game? If not … or if the Bolts linebackers can’t handle covering Travis Kelce and James has to do it … it’s going to be a long afternoon for Gus Bradley’s defense.
Chiefs OT vs. Chargers DE Isaac Rochell
Eric Fisher is the left tackle and Mitchell Schwartz is the right tackle and both of them are beyond ecstatic that they don’t have to deal with Joey Bosa. The Pro Bowl defensive end has a foot injury and won’t play on Sunday so Rochell gets to step into the starting lineup. A 7th round pick out of Notre Dame last year Rochell doesn’t have much experience but has shown flashes of talent. However, he’s not Bosa and depth has been the Chargers biggest issue for the last decade. Unless Rochell can make an impact along the defensive front the Bolts pass rush will not be as good as it was a year ago and not getting pressure on a first-year starting QB is not a good way to win a football game.
Chargers K Caleb Sturgis vs. The Goalposts
The single biggest reason the Chargers missed the playoffs last year was their special teams. Over the summer they did basically nothing to try and improve their special teams. Sturgis “won” the kicking job during the preseason but he is far from a sure thing with it comes to putting the ball through the uprights. If he struggles again against Kansas City the Chargers probably don’t have much of a chance to start 1-0.
Derek’s Prediction
Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn said the Chiefs are the best team in the AFC West. I agree with Lynn and until the Bolts prove they can get over on Andy Reid and his guys I’m taking the defending division champs.
Final score: Chiefs 23, Chargers 20
