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Chiefs-Cragers: 5 issues to look at in Week 14’s Sunday Night Football

12/08/2024

The NFL calendar has turned to December. The (11-1) Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 residence stretch will start on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium with Week 14’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup in opposition to the (8-4) Los Angeles Chargers. Kickoff is about for 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

When these groups met in Week 4, the Chiefs escaped with a slim 17-10 victory. The Chargers have gained six of eight video games since then, becoming increasingly more into the identification that first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh needs to determine.

If the season ended immediately, Los Angeles would maintain the AFC’s high wild-card berth — however a win in Kansas City would hold them alive for the division title. If the Chiefs win, although, they may acquire their ninth consecutive division championship. Either approach, this second head-to-head matchup may set the stage for a 3rd one within the postseason.

Here are 5 issues to look at on Sunday night time.

1. At left sort out, is the third time a allure?

Only a number of weeks after the Chiefs signed him, veteran left sort out D.J. Humphries is anticipated to begin. He would be the third participant defending quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind facet in 2024.

The distinction between Humphries and the earlier left tackles — second-year participant Wanya Morris and second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia — is expertise. A begin on Sunday can be the a hundredth of his eight-year profession — together with a playoff sport. The Chiefs are banking on his skilled maturity to stabilize their go safety.

In the final two video games, Mahomes has been sacked 10 instances — greater than some other NFL quarterback. Kansas City’s passing offense has overcome these momentum-killing performs by ramping up its personal manufacturing on downfield throws: in those self same two weeks — on passes with 10 or extra air yards — Mahomes has moved the chains 10 instances and scored 4 touchdowns.

The Chiefs’ pass-catching group is starting to sync up with Mahomes — and if Humphries could be a dependable go protector, their rhythm may enhance exponentially.

2. More bend (and fewer break) from the Chiefs’ protection

In latest weeks, the Kansas City protection’s largest wrestle has been permitting explosive go performs.

On Sunday night time, the Los Angeles pass-catcher almost certainly to make an enormous play is rookie broad receiver Ladd McConkey, who leads the staff in receptions and receiving yards. But McConkey has been listed as questionable for the sport after being restricted on this week’s practices with shoulder and knee accidents.

Still, Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo expects McConkey to play a major function.

“There isn’t any query that he’s a essential focus,” he informed reporters on Thursday. “When we performed them the final time, I don’t assume we knew that he was going to floor like that… Now it’s evident that he’s a man that you simply higher be sure you have your eyeballs on, as a result of the quarterback is looking for him. When he does, it’s often a profitable play.”

If McConkey can’t go, the Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert shall be with no goal who has accounted for 32% of his 2024 receiving yards. Even if McConkey is enjoying via accidents, Kansas City’s defenders should restrict his manufacturing.

3. Finishing red-zone possessions

In the pink zone, the Chiefs have gone via highs and lows which have resulted within the league’s Twenty fourth-ranked red-zone conversion fee (52.1%). In Week 13, the offense managed just one landing on 4 journeys contained in the 20-yard line.

On Sunday, the unit should end extra of its drives — as a result of Los Angeles owns the NFL’s second-lowest red-zone conversion fee. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit has allowed the league’s fewest factors per sport (15.7) — which Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy credit to Minter’s affect.

“He has been in that Ravens-type protection for some time,” Nagy noticed this week. “He is placing his personal spin to it. He has nice gamers over there. You noticed what they did final week defensively in opposition to Falcons’ offense… They’re very strong — and make you’re employed arduous for touchdowns contained in the pink zone.”

4. Winning up entrance on protection

The Chiefs’ go rush acquired a lift with the return of defensive finish Charles Omenihu. While PFF credited him with just one stress agains the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13, the staff’s three sacks have been essentially the most since Week 8.

Defensive sort out Chris Jones collected two of these — identical to he did in Week 4 in opposition to the Chargers. His playmaking shall be a key within the sport — however Spagnuolo is worried that this time, it is going to be more durable.

“The largest factor that shall be completely different for us is that after we performed them final time, [Herbert] had a bum ankle and wasn’t operating as a lot,” he reminded reporters. “He gutted it out in that sport. He’s operating fairly good now.”

On the opposite hand, the Los Angeles offense has surrendered sacks on the NFL’s fourth-highest fee (9.4%). If Kansas City’s protection can execute higher, that may assist the go rush.

5. Getting Isiah Pacheco going

In Week 13, operating backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt break up 14 carries in opposition to a stout Raiders’ run protection. The solely actual distinction between their performances was Pacheco’s 34-yard burst within the second half — which arrange a rating.

The Chiefs’ offense acquired away from the operating sport — a energy earlier within the season — as a result of it wanted extra yardage than Hunt may grind out. The unit is working arduous to remain forward of the sticks, attempting to maintain drives (and rating extra factors) whereas the protection figures it out.

The faster Pacheco can return to being the featured ball service, the extra impactful the operating sport will grow to be — which is able to assist open up the passing offense. Los Angeles is dedicated to stopping the operating sport, however has nonetheless allowed 4.6 yards per carry this season.