5 issues to observe because the Chiefs host the Chargers on Sunday Evening Soccer

The NFL calendar has turned to December. The (11-1) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 2024 house stretch will start on GEHA Area at Arrowhead Stadium with Week 14’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup in opposition to the (8-4) Los Angeles Chargers. Kickoff is ready for 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

When these groups met in Week 4, the Chiefs escaped with a slim 17-10 victory. The Chargers have gained six of eight video games since then, becoming an increasing number of into the identification that first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh needs to ascertain.

If the season ended at this time, Los Angeles would maintain the AFC’s high wild-card berth — however a win in Kansas Metropolis would hold them alive for the division title. If the Chiefs win, although, they’ll acquire their ninth consecutive division championship. Both means, this second head-to-head matchup may set the stage for a 3rd one within the postseason.

Listed below are 5 issues to observe on Sunday night time.

1. At left sort out, is the third time a appeal?

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Just a few weeks after the Chiefs signed him, veteran left sort out D.J. Humphries is anticipated to start out. He would be the third participant defending quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind aspect in 2024.

The distinction between Humphries and the earlier left tackles — second-year participant Wanya Morris and second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia — is expertise. A begin on Sunday can be the a centesimal of his eight-year profession — together with a playoff recreation. The Chiefs are banking on his skilled maturity to stabilize their move safety.

Within the final two video games, Mahomes has been sacked 10 occasions — greater than another NFL quarterback. Kansas Metropolis’s passing offense has overcome these momentum-killing performs by ramping up its personal manufacturing on downfield throws: in those self same two weeks — on passes with 10 or extra air yards — Mahomes has moved the chains 10 occasions and scored 4 touchdowns.

The Chiefs’ pass-catching group is starting to sync up with Mahomes — and if Humphries is usually a dependable move protector, their rhythm may enhance exponentially.

2. Extra bend (and fewer break) from the Chiefs’ protection

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In current weeks, the Kansas Metropolis protection’s largest battle has been permitting explosive move performs.

On Sunday night time, the Los Angeles pass-catcher most definitely to make an enormous play is rookie huge receiver Ladd McConkey, who leads the crew in receptions and receiving yards. However McConkey has been listed as questionable for the sport after being restricted on this week’s practices with shoulder and knee accidents.

Nonetheless, Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo expects McConkey to play a big position.

“There is no question that he is a main focus,” he informed reporters on Thursday. “When we played them the last time, I don’t think we knew that he was going to surface like that… Now it’s evident that he is a guy that you better make sure you have your eyeballs on, because the quarterback is trying to find him. When he does, it’s usually a successful play.”

If McConkey can’t go, the Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert can be with no goal who has accounted for 32% of his 2024 receiving yards. Even when McConkey is taking part in by means of accidents, Kansas Metropolis’s defenders should restrict his manufacturing.

3. Ending red-zone possessions

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Within the purple zone, the Chiefs have gone by means of highs and lows which have resulted within the league’s Twenty fourth-ranked red-zone conversion charge (52.1%). In Week 13, the offense managed just one landing on 4 journeys contained in the 20-yard line.

On Sunday, the unit should end extra of its drives — as a result of Los Angeles owns the NFL’s second-lowest red-zone conversion charge. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s unit has allowed the league’s fewest factors per recreation (15.7) — which Kansas Metropolis offensive coordinator Matt Nagy credit to Minter’s affect.

“He has been in that Ravens-type defense for a while,” Nagy noticed this week. “He is putting his own spin to it. He has great players over there. You saw what they did last week defensively against a good Falcons’ offense… They’re very solid — and make you work hard for touchdowns inside the red zone.”

4. Profitable up entrance on protection

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The Chiefs’ move rush acquired a lift with the return of defensive finish Charles Omenihu. Whereas PFF credited him with just one strain agains the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13, the crew’s three sacks had been essentially the most since Week 8.

Defensive sort out Chris Jones collected two of these — identical to he did in Week 4 in opposition to the Chargers. His playmaking can be a key within the recreation — however Spagnuolo is anxious that this time, it will likely be more durable.

“The biggest thing that will be different for us is that when we played them last time, [Herbert] had a bum ankle and wasn’t running as much,” he reminded reporters. “He gutted it out in that game. He’s running pretty good now.”

Alternatively, the Los Angeles offense has surrendered sacks on the NFL’s fourth-highest charge (9.4%). If Kansas Metropolis’s protection can execute higher, that can assist the move rush.

5. Getting Isiah Pacheco going

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In Week 13, operating backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt cut up 14 carries in opposition to a stout Raiders’ run protection. The one actual distinction between their performances was Pacheco’s 34-yard burst within the second half — which arrange a rating.

The Chiefs’ offense acquired away from the operating recreation — a power earlier within the season — as a result of it wanted extra yardage than Hunt may grind out. The unit is working laborious to remain forward of the sticks, attempting to maintain drives (and rating extra factors) whereas the protection figures it out.

The faster Pacheco can return to being the featured ball service, the extra impactful the operating recreation will turn into — which can assist open up the passing offense. Los Angeles is dedicated to stopping the operating recreation, however has nonetheless allowed 4.6 yards per carry this season.