Without Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chargers have a good chance of winning their season finale. Should they actually do it, though?
Happy Friday, everyone!
To close out the 2023 regular season, we’ve been joined by Jared Sapp of Arrowhead Pride to help us preview this week’s matchup between the Chargers and Chiefs.
Let’s go ahead and dive right in!
1.) The 2023 season hasn’t been the same for Chiefs fans who are used to the team winning 12-13 games at the minimum with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Despite winning 10 games this year with one to go, I can’t help but feel like the fan base considers this year a disappointment. How do you personally feel about this season and am I far off when it comes to the temperature of the fan base?
Most fans consider this season a failure thus far, and winning another Super Bowl is probably the only way this narrative changes. I have been really underwhelmed with the Chiefs seeming to make the same errors week in and week out. Each of Kansas City’s six losses have at least one glaring error that arguably could have changed the outcome of the game. I think the Chiefs front office probably was too high on some of the in-house options on offense last offseason, and the results that we are used to just haven’t been there.
2.) I sincerely apologize for bringing one of the elephants back into the room, but have things been different, if at all, when it comes to team coverage this year having one of the world’s biggest stars attached at the hip to the franchise? Has it been a positive thing having Swifties join the fan base? What negatives have come along with it?
The Taylor Swift phenomena was a novelty earlier in the season, but her romance with Travis Kelce has kind of faded into the background over the season’s second half, especially with how disappointing the Chiefs have been on the field since their Week 10 bye. Earlier in the season (when she appeared to be a good luck charm when appearing at games) it was fun to see the Chiefs transcending the entertainment world. A negative effect is the romance, combined with Kelce’s play looking much more labored in his age-34 season, has put the fanbase firmly on retirement watch for one of the most popular players in team history.
3.) The Chiefs get to at least have a shot at making a postseason run this year before focusing entirely on the draft. When that time comes, where do you see the Chiefs going position-wise this offseason? What do you think they do with their first-round pick?
Right now no one will listen to anyone proposing anything except wide receiver. This is due to the embarrassing play of any wideout not named Rashee Rice and how insanely deep this draft will be at the position. That said, the Chiefs already have Rice under rookie control for three more seasons and will likely prioritize a veteran receiver early in the offseason. If I had to make a guess today, it would honestly be defensive tackle, assuming Chris Jones leaves in free agency. The Chiefs don’t have any defensive tackle under contract for 2024 who has played more than 30 snaps this season. The position is a major need even if Jones somehow returns. A dark horse position might be cornerback if the Chiefs lose L’Jarius Sneed given how important the secondary has been to their defense resurgence in 2023.
4.) If you were the Chiefs offensive and defensive coordinator, how would you go about stopping the Chargers, on both sides of the ball?
Given the current state of the Chargers defense, I would punish Los Angeles in the intermediate passing game to minimize opportunities for Khalil Mack to get home. If I were defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, I would make it a priority to get home on Easton Stick with four to maximize bodies in coverage to force the backup quarterback to find an opening.
5.) The Chargers are currently 3.5-point favorites according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is currently set at 35 points. In this battle of the backups, how do you see this game shaking out? Do you like the over or under in this one? Go ahead and give us a final score score prediction on top of it all.
I expect the Chargers to play harder than the Chiefs, so I think the 3.5 line is fair. Players for Los Angeles have the incentive to put their best film on tape with a new regime coming in while no Chief should risk his body making a tackle or fighting for yards with the playoffs looming. I would take the under on points. Andy Reid will prioritize a running clock over anything on Sunday to get this one done as quickly as possible.