The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing a six-game winning streak against the Los Angeles Chargers into their Sunday night game.
Despite their success, the Chiefs’ reputation for being unbeatable is starting to fade. Kansas City enters Week 14 with an impressive 11-1 record, but their last four wins have been narrow. One of those victories came in overtime, and three were by three points or fewer.
The most recent close call happened last Friday when the Chiefs won 19-17 at home against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs managed to hold on to their lead after the Raiders failed to make a snap on a shotgun formation with 15 seconds left while already in field-goal range.
Even though it seems that other teams are starting to close the gap with the Chiefs, they are still able to pull off close wins. They are 9-0 this season in games decided by one possession.
The Chiefs have scored fewer than 20 points in three games this season, but they won each of those games.
“The hope is that with all of these close finishes, we’re getting wins but it’s keeping us hungry so that we can try to continue to get better as the season goes on,” said quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The close games have raised concerns for the Chiefs, especially since they are now on their third kicker. With Harrison Butker injured and Spencer Shrader placed on injured reserve this week, Matthew Wright was signed from the practice squad after making 4 of 5 kicks against the Raiders.
“Wright will go this weekend and if he just keeps doing what he has been doing, he has done a nice job for us,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders, while tight end Travis Kelce led the team with seven receptions. But the Raiders outgained the Chiefs with 434 total yards to 329, and Mahomes was sacked five times for a loss of 40 yards.
The Chargers will look to use their defense, which is tied for sixth in the NFL with 36 sacks. Los Angeles (8-4) has been on a roll, winning five of their last six games while holding opponents to fewer than 20 points in four of those victories.
The Chargers have the best defense in the NFL when it comes to points allowed, giving up just 15.7 points per game. The Chiefs are eighth, allowing 19.6 points per game.
Los Angeles’ offense will need improvement, as they gained only 187 total yards and earned 10 first downs in a 17-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. However, Chargers’ Tarheeb Still had a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Still also recorded two interceptions against the Falcons, contributing the only points for the Chargers in the second half, aside from a two-point conversion. His performance earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“Great defense wants to be on the field, you know what I mean?” said Derwin James Jr. of the Chargers, who sealed the win with an interception with less than a minute remaining. “I feel like we had that talent and we finished how we wanted to finish as a defense.”
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals in the game, while quarterback Justin Herbert went 16-of-23 for 147 yards and was sacked five times.
“Yeah, we could do some things better (on offense),” said head coach Jim Harbaugh. “But we were at our best when our best was needed most. Maybe just like the defense, it’s going to translate.”
The only injury for the Chargers heading into Wednesday’s practice was linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee). Wide receiver Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) had limited participation.
The Chiefs are healthy and had all players as full participants in practice on Wednesday.
