Kansas City vs San Diego
The San Diego Chargers will show no mercy on a Kansas City Chiefs team that has lost three key players to their starting lineup, when the two division rivals meet at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.
Venue/Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
Time/Date: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 25, 2011
NFL Odds From: 5 Dimes
Spread (ATS): Chargers -16
Over/Under: 45
Kansas City has gone from first to worst in just one year, and the news from the locker room is that tight end Tony Moeaki and Pro Bowlers – safety Eric Berry and running back Jamaal Charles – are all out for with season-ending left ACL injuries.
That is good news for a Chargers’ team that has all the right ingredients to regain their roost atop the AFC West.
However, they have yet to show it , and their four-turnover performance against the New England Patriots proves the Bolts still have a ways to go.
The Pats simply pushed the San Diego defense around, scoring drives on all four of their possessions before halftime, en route to a 35-21 win.
The lone bright spot for San Diego was Vincent Jackson who had 10 receptions for 172 yards and two TDs for San Diego, while Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates did not have a single reception for the first time in 34 games.
Rivers will need to do a better job of distributing the rock if San Diego is going to make a serious postseason charge. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
And it all starts this weekend against the Chiefs who have lost four straight and have been outscored 130-27 in those games, including 89-10 this season after matching the worst loss in franchise history, 48-3 at Detroit last Sunday. This just one week after suffering their worst season-opening loss, 41-7 to Buffalo.
The Chiefs committed six turnovers against the Lions, including three interceptions and a fumble by quarterback Matt Cassel.
Can it get any worse?
Well, without Charles, the already poor play Cassel will only be magnified.
He has throw for just 256 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions this season, after averaging 207.7 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2010.
Hopefully for the Chiefs, running back Thomas Jones, arguably the best backup running back in the NFL, can help fill the void left by the injured Charles and shoulder the majority of the offensive load until Cassel finds his game.
Wherever it is.
But at age 33, the Chiefs must be careful not to overwork Jones, so RB Dexter McCluster will also likely see more time in the backfield. McCluster moved from receiver to running back this season but he’s still seeing time at both positions.
This year, through just two games, he has nine receptions and 12 rushing attempts, but has fumbled twice already this season. McCluster could definitely compliment Jones by creating some confusion for the defense, but only if he holds onto the ball.
Matt’s Prediction: Chargers 40, Chiefs 13- The Chargers won four straight AFC West titles before the Chiefs dethroned them in 2010. However, in the past six games overall against the Chiefs, San Diego QB Phillip Rivers has completed 68.3 percent of his passes with 13 TDs en route to a 5-1 record. I expect Rivers to lead his team to a big win in this one as the Charger cover.
