The Chargers and Chiefs are squaring off once again in 2024 and it’s anybody’s ball game this time around.

This week, we were joined by Jared Sapp of SB Nation’s Kansas City Chiefs community, Arrowhead Pride, to help us preview this week’s Sunday Night Football matchup.

Let’s get into it!

1.) I still cannot believe the Chiefs have as good of a record as they do in spite of Patrick Mahomes’ underwhelming stats this season. What has been the secret sauce to keeping this team winning without the usual recipe?

Earlier in the season, the Chiefs were actively doing things at the end of the game to take wins from the other team. You would see a clutch moment like stopping Bijan Robinson in the backfield on fourth down or Xavier Worthy’s clutch route that iced the game against the Chargers in Week 4. It’s not a word I like using, but the last few weeks seem more like luck than anything. The Chiefs are 4-1 over a stretch they could easily be 0-5. One victory depended on a walk off blocked field goal. Last week they needed a gaffe like only the 21st century Raiders could commit to escape with the win.

The last month has been full of press conference comments about how hard winning is in the NFL. True as that may be, the time for cliches is over, and it’s time to start looking like a contender if they want to go anywhere.

2.) Where does this Chiefs team rank in terms of overall talent level compared to their past Super Bowl-reaching teams? Would it be a surprise to see them in the big game or does the fan base foresee a real shot at a three-peat?

Honestly, I am not sure what we are seeing here. Of the three Super Bowl winners, the 2019 squad had the best offense by far. Last season’s team had the best defense of the trio. The 2022 squad was probably the best balanced. I’m probably jaded from a month of bad Chiefs football, but I think people are expecting the light to suddenly switch on because Kansas City was able to do so when the playoffs started last year. I think this team could just as likely follow the pattern of last season’s Eagles than Chiefs.

I’m not going to totally doubt a team with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. But I also don’t think they can keep up their current pattern and achieve their goals. I will probably decide how I feel about this team over the last few games.

3.) Travis Kelce is averaging 8.3 yards per receptions this season. If that holds, it would be his first season ever where he averaged less than 10.0 in that stat. Still, he’s leading the team in both catches and yards. How would you describe this version of Travis Kelce? Is he still winning in his usual ways or has he transformed his game a bit as he’s aged?

To be fair, Rashee Rice had clearly taken over Kelce’s role as the featured weapon in Kansas City’s offense before going down last time against the Chargers following the most costly interception in league history.

Kelce can still get open, and no one find the perfect spot for a scrambling Mahomes like he can. The big difference is he is nowhere near the YAC threat he used to be, especially in multiple Chiefs-Chargers contests. A surprising development has been his backup Noah Gray doing some vintage Kelce things over the last few months. He will never resemble a prime Kelce, but the 25-year old version of Gray might be a superior player today than the 34-year old Kelce.

I think the idea that teams (the Chiefs in particular) save things for the playoffs is an overplayed trope, but Kelce did find a second gear last year when the games were most important. We will see if the chance to wrap up the AFC West brings out that version of 87.

4.) Although the Chiefs have just one record, a lot of teams are playing them close. Even the worst teams on their schedule are pushing them into uncomfortable fourth quarters. What are the biggest issues plaguing this Chiefs team? How do they fix them?

Injuries have been an insane obstacle this year, and they just keep coming as time goes on. The main issue is obvious for both sides of the ball.

On offense, the Chiefs started with middling play from the tackles, and it’s progressively gotten worse throughout the season as young left tackle options Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia have proven unable to be trusted with Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Kansas City appears set to put veteran DJ Humprhies in on Sunday. If he doesn’t at least bring the level of play to what the team had with Orlando Brown and Donovan Smith the last two seasons (not exactly a high bar), I think it might be game over for the three-peat aspirations.

On defense, the Chiefs lost third-year cornerback Jaylen Watson — who had been having an outstanding 2024 campaign — in Week 7 against the 49ers. No one has stepped up in his role, and the problems go beyond finding a one-to-one replacement. The Chiefs have not been able to use Trent McDuffie in the slot, where he is one of the league’s best defensive players, because he’s been needed outside. So a blue-chip defender is playing a role where he is less effective while the team has to use inferior options in the rule where he excels. Problematic.

The team’s pass rush has been a major disappointment, but I have optimism the return of Charles Omenihu will lead to improvement in that area.

5.) Finally, let’s top this off with a final score prediction. The Chiefs are favored by 3.5 points at home. How do you see this game shaking out?

It’s not even as long as a Thursday Night Football minibye, but I think the Chiefs needed the extra couple of days rest from playing on Black Friday. I think they will be focused and play safe, mistake free football. I see them relying on a steady ground game with Isiah Pacheco now able to rotate with Kareem Hunt for a narrow 20-17 victory Sunday night.