Los Angeles Chargers: Staff predictions for Chargers-Chiefs

The Los Angeles Chargers head into Kansas City in their toughest game yet in what should be an electrifying Thursday Night Football matchup.

The Los Angeles Chargers have already proven to everyone that they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season. A win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday would catapult them up the ranks and among the top three teams in the NFL.

There are also possible division implications on the line as well. If the Chargers win, the two sides will share an 11-3 record. However, the Chiefs do have the tiebreaker but do have a very losable game in Seattle next week.

Winning this game could set the Chargers up to win the last two games of the year and hope that the Seahawks get the best of the Chiefs. If so, the Chargers can go into the playoffs with a 13-3 record and home-field advantage.

Heck, the Chargers could win this game, finish tied for the best record at 13-3 and not even get a bye. Ya know, because of the wild card.

This game is going to be fun and it will determine how serious the Chargers take the next two games of the season. Here are our staff predictions for the showdown.

Jamaal Artis (16-5): 28-20, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers are 10-3 and face their biggest challenge of the season as they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night. It will likely be a cold frigid night, which will hurt the Chargers offensive attack, I still expect the defense to play well. It won’t be enough.

Lamarr Fields (15-8): 31-30, Kansas City Chiefs

I got this game going down to the last possession with the Chiefs winning on a last-second field goal. This game can go either way but I like the chiefs at home.

Redan Lopez (15-6): 31-27, Kansas City Chiefs

This game has shootout potential. However, I will have to temper expectations with both teams dealing with injuries to some of their key offensive weapons.

Top two Charger Running Backs Melvin Gordon (knee) and Austin Ekeler (knee, concussion) appear to be out. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are dealing with the loss of Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins (foot) and fellow Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill (foot) operating at less than 100%.

Chiefs’ Running Back Spencer Ware should also be considered questionable as to how much his workload may be on Thursday night.

Despite the injuries, I actually expect the defenses of both teams to show up as this game will ultimately determine who will the NFC West division. The game will be high scoring in the first half (each team will score 20 points), but the second half will be characterized by the defenses.

I think Chiefs’ safety Eric Berry will make a big interception at the end of the game, ending the Chargers hope for a comeback. The Chiefs will wrap up the division and gain a first-round bye.

Jason Reed (21-3): 36-30, Los Angeles Chargers

Ya know, I am starting to pull away on my contributors with a pretty solid 21-3 record. We are going off of wins and with a five-game lead, I am practically guaranteed to win outright.

This is another game that I am going to pull away on my contributors from as I am going against the grain and selecting the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs have not looked the same without Kareem Hunt and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Chiefs for most of the game and should have won if it was not for a crazy Patrick Mahomes fourth a nine play.

The Chargers secondary is decent enough to hold Mahomes from having an absolutely insane game and the pass-rush should be getting to him constantly. Philip Rivers is red-hot and is going to go into Arrowhead with something to prove.

Having Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler potentially out does not scare me one bit. Chargers by six.