Chiefs Dominate Hapless Bolts in Un-dominating Fashion
The Kansas City Chiefs moved to 5-0 on the season following their week 5 bye this past weekend, defeating a rather listless Chargers team 22-6 at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The loss moved the winless AFC representative from L.A. to 0-6 heading into their own bye week in week 7. The win feels somewhat like more of an inditement of the Chargers ineptitude rather than that of Chiefs supremacy in the AFC West division or the AFC as a whole. At times, it felt like the Chargers didn’t even want to be on the field, and had already checked out for their week off, or possibly the entire season altogether. Unfortunately for Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, he has been in this situation with this team before. Although the last time, Harbaugh was the Chargers QB at the time.
In a game where it felt like the Chiefs were in an inter-squad practice, there were instances where points were left off the board. A missed Harrison Butker field goal, and extra point, combined with a Patrick Mahomes INT in the red zone, as well as a muffed punt, and twice being stopped on downs inside Charger territory, all contributed to what can be best described as not the Chiefs best performance.
Once again Kenneth Walker III looked the part of Offensive Player of the Year, if not League MVP. Pacing the rushing attack with 128 yards, and regaining his spot atop the rushing leaders with now 665 yards on the season. Mahomes went 23 of 30 for 273 yards and 1 INT. Not up to his lofty expectations of himself, but solid and efficient, the 1 INT not withstanding. Xavier Worthy stepped up in the absence of Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton, netting more than 70 yds recieving on the day. Most of which came in the 1st half.
Nonetheless, the game was never in doubt, and the Chiefs were clearly the better team. Up next though for the Chiefs is a road trip to the Pacific NW, and K9’s former employer, the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are coming off a loss to the Denver Donkeys on Thursday Night Football 14-17. In a game where they outplayed the Broncos, the Seahawks, although 3-3, are not a team to take lightly. And the 12’s will be trying, even if coming up short, to match the volume level of the World Record Holders in Arrowhead.
I would expect the Seahawks to focus on taking away Kenneth Walker III, although most of the time if your strategy is to make Patrick Mahomes beat you, that is almost always a losing proposition. I would expect the Chiefs to lean on play action and the screen game to exploit an aggressive Seattle defense. On the flip side, if I was the Chiefs, I would be expecting a heavy dose of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with high usage of their capable TE trio against the Chiefs LB’s and slot CB who aren’t the strongest in pass coverage. If the Chiefs can run the ball with any success though, I feel the Chiefs should be able to come out of the Hawk’s Nest with a victory and move to 7-0 on the season.
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