Thursday’s NFL Matchup
KANSAS CITY (9-4) AT L.A. CHARGERS (8-5)
KICKOFF: 8:20 p.m. FOX/NFL Network/Amazon
BETTING LINE: Chiefs by 3, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Kansas City 6-7; Los Angeles 7-6.
SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 64-58-1.
LAST MEETING: Chargers beat Chiefs 30-24 on Sept. 26, in Kansas City.
LAST WEEK: Chiefs beat Raiders 48-9; Chargers beat Giants 37-21.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chiefs CB Rashad Fenton has missed the past two games with a knee injury, but he practiced on a limited basis last week and should be ready to go against the Chargers . ... Chargers WR Jalen Guyton has touchdown receptions of 44 and 59 yards in the past two games, helping Los Angeles to consecutive wins by double-digit margins for the first time since Week 5-6 in 2018.
KEY INJURIES: RT Lucas Niang (ribs) should be available after missing last week’s game. LB Nick Bolton (wrist) was limited earlier this week but also should play. DE Chris Jones’ status is unknown after going on the COVID-19 list Tuesday, so Kansas City could be without its most disruptive lineman . ... WR Keenan Allen should return after sitting out against the Giants because of COVID-19. RB Austin Ekeler should play after hurting his ankle Sunday. S Derwin James (hamstring) got in a limited practice Tuesday, which bodes well for him returning after not playing last week.
STATS AND STUFF: The Chiefs have won six straight games, tied for the seventh-longest streak in franchise history. … Kansas City has held three straight opponents to nine points apiece, the second-longest streak of 10 or fewer in franchise history. The record is five straight games set in 1968 in the AFL . ... Andy Reid can tie Marty Schottenheimer (101) for second among Chiefs coaches in regular-season wins Thursday night. Hank Stram has the record with 124 . ... Pat Mahomes passed Alex Smith last week for third place in Chiefs history with 17,794 yards passing in his career. Trent Green is next with 21,459 . ... Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill already has broken his own single-season record with 89 catches. He also has 1,030 yards receiving, eclipsing the 1,000 mark for the fourth straight season . ... Hill (6,421) needs 125 yards receiving to pass Henry Marshall for third in Chiefs history. … Chargers OLB Joey Bosa leads the NFL with five strip-sacks . ... Justin Herbert is one of three QBs to throw for 8,000 yards in his first two seasons, joining Andrew Luck (8,196) and Jameis Winston (8,132). Herbert (8,158) needs 39 yards to pass Luck. ... Herbert had three touchdown passes against New York, his eighth career game throwing at least three scores without an interception . ... Ekeler’s 23 career touchdown catches are tied for ninth most by a RB in the common draft era. Since 1967, only seven rushers have caught 25 touchdowns.