5 bold predictions for Chiefs against Chargers

1. The Chiefs only punt once

If the Chiefs are making Week 3 their comeback moment, they’ll have to employ everything spectacular about their offense.

That means that it’s red zone or bust, as the Chiefs will have to score on nearly every drive — no punts allowed.

Of course punts are possible, but the Chiefs need to dominate in a high-scoring affair that doesn’t have them giving away the ball after failed drives. The team must find a way to at least drive into field goal range on each possession. Kelce and Edwards-Helaire will be key in driving down the field, while receivers like Hill, Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson will need to break deep for rapid-fire scores.

It was Kelce, Pringle and Robinson who each got touchdowns last week, and they’ll need to do it again in Week 3. While the Chargers secondary will dampen at least one Chiefs receiver, it’s impossible to cover all three speedsters and Kelce. It’s what’s great about this offense, an offense that can also lean more on the run game than usual against the Chargers’ weakened position group.

The Chiefs actually had a one-punt game in 2020 during their post-season run when they played the Buffalo Bills. Against the Cleveland Browns, they didn’t bring on their punter at all. A no-punt game is possible, but a one-punt game is perfectly reasonable with the Chiefs.

With that, the Chiefs will take the Chargers this week 33-27.