It may not be in impressive fashion (this season at least) but the fact of the matter is the Kansas City Chiefs win football games. The LA Chargers know this all too well and were reminded of this earlier this season in a 17-10 loss.
As if the Chiefs and their weird hex over the football world aren’t hard enough to overcome already, the two-time defending Super Bowl Champions may predictably be getting even better just in time to host the Bolts.
While nothing is official, head coach Andy Reid has not ruled out the possibility of former Pro Bowler tackle D.J. Humphries suiting up for the first time on Sunday night against the Chargers.
“If he feels okay, then we give him an opportunity”
– Andy Reid on D.J. Humphries
D.J. Humphries could predictably make his Chiefs debut right in time for the Chargers
It would be a classic Chiefs storyline to welcome back their Pro Bowl tackle who they signed during the season right in time to host a hopeful division rival. The Chargers are looking to send a message to the Chiefs in Week 14 and at least make Kansas City sweat out the AFC West. Humphries playing makes that goal harder to accomplish.
Kansas City’s offense line has struggled this season and could be an area for the Chargers to exploit on Sunday. The Chargers have one of the deepest pass rushes in the league that can feast on an offensive line with weaknesses.
The Chiefs didn’t have to worry about a full-strength Chargers pass rush earlier this season as Joey Bosa was out of action in the contest. The Chargers still managed to pressure Mahomes 15 times in that game. With 20 pressures last week against the Raiders, Mahomes could be subject to a long game if he does not get offensive line reinforcements.
Humphries suiting up against the Chargers would make a huge difference. While it is unlikely he would instantly be at top form, he would be a massive upgrade over what the Chiefs have. Wayna Morris allowed eight of those 20 pressures in 53 pass-blocking snaps.
Morris’ 95.1% pass-blocking efficiency this season on Pro Football Focus is the sixth-worst in the NFL among the 32 tackles who have played at least 400 pass-blocking snaps.
That is exactly the kind of matchup the Chargers could exploit to upset the Chiefs on the road on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Bolts could be getting Humphries instead.
