Los Angeles Chargers: Three reasons why LA will defeat the Chiefs

1. Joey Bosa has returned

Joey Bosa was not active for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs and did not make his first appearance until Week 11 against the Denver Broncos. While Bosa’s presence was definitely missed, the team was 7-2 by the time of his return and his return served as an added benefit for an already playoff-bound team.

Bosa did not have an immediate impact in his game against the Broncos, which ended up being a sloppy game for the team as a whole which could even cost them the number one seed in the AFC. Since then, though, he has been great.

Bosa has registered four sacks in his last three games with six quarterback hits and 17 total tackles. His impact has been apparent and has given the Chargers the elite pass-rush defensive line that fans were touting before the season began.

Patrick Mahomes has been great this year and I cannot continue to use the “young quarterbacks eventually fizzle out” argument any longer. However, it is true that even the best quarterbacks in the league are not as good when they are sitting on their butt.

Mahomes is elusive and can evade the pocket and extend plays, heck, that is the only reason the Chiefs beat the Ravens last week. Having Bosa coming off the end is huge for the Chargers as it is going to limit Mahomes’ elusiveness.

Both Bosa and Melvin Ingram are great athletes with closeout speed that will, hopefully, smother Mahomes.