Chiefs at Chargers: Preview and prediction

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers lock horns.

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers are two teams going in opposite directions. Kansas City is sitting at 4-5 and has won three straight, putting itself back into the mix for an AFC playoff spot. San Diego is 2-7, and appears to be playing out the string before packing up and moving to Los Angeles.

The Chiefs are the better team, but this is a division game, so expect the unexpected. San Diego is coming off a BYE week and is healthier than it has been in weeks, seeing the return of left tackle King Dunlap and guard Orlando Franklin. However, the Chargers will be without their top two receivers in Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd, who have kidney and shoulder injuries, respectively.

It will be interesting to see if Philip Rivers can beat the Chiefs’ corner duo of Marcus Peters and Sean Smith. Few teams have more talent on the corners than Kansas City, which has been able to completely shut down passing attacks in recent weeks. Last Sunday, the Chiefs allowed only 35 passing yards to Peyton Manning before he was benched in the third quarter. Manning also threw four interceptions, with Smith and Peters each nabbing one.

On offense, Kansas City must run the ball with effectiveness. The Chiefs were able to survive the loss of Jamaal Charles because of second-year man Charcandrick West, who has risen to the occasion. West has been good for 100 yards from scrimmage on the regular, including last week when he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass.

Pick: Kansas City 24, San Diego 13