CHIEFS (11-4) VS. CHARGERS (5-10)
SUNDAY, 4:25 P.M. ET, QUALCOMM STADIUM, SAN DIEGO uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 718
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl
About the Chiefs: The Chiefs knew they had a spot in the playoffs after the Baltimore Ravens’ loss earlier Sunday, but they went out and resoundingly beat the Denver Broncos 33-10. The Chiefs can win the AFC West if they win this game and the Oakland Raiders lose to Denver. The Chiefs compiled 484 yards to Denver’s 246 and had balance offensively with 37 rushing attempts and 37 pass plays producing 238 yards rushing and 246 passing. Of the 484 yards, 150 came on a 70-yard touchdown run by WR and an 80-yard score on a pass play from QB to
who finished the game with 11 receptions for 160 yards and has 1,117 receiving yards entering the final game of the season. Smith also had a 10-yard run for the first touchdown of the game and has a team-leading four rushing touchdowns this season.
About the Chargers: In what might be their final game in San Diego, the Chargers will try to knock off the Chiefs eight days after becoming the only team this season to lose to the Cleveland Browns. The Chargers outgained Cleveland 356-251 and sacked QBs
and a total of nine times, but they scored only 17 points and missed two field goal attempts in the final 3:49. K 32-yard attempt was blocked, and he pushed a 45-yard try wide right as time expired. Said QB who passed for 322 yards and has 4,117 yards this season, “We have lost five of our last six, and a lot of them have been close games like this one. We found another way to lose a close game.” Club owner said he The Chargers could be playing their final game at Qualcomm Stadium.
would decide by Jan. 15 whether to join the Rams in Los Angeles or continue trying to get a stadium built in San Diego.
Williams has developed into the go-to wide receiver for Rivers. Williams has scored seven touchdowns and needs 11 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. While Peters and Co. likely won’t be able to prevent Williams from reach-
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
ing that milestone, when Peters is matched up on Williams, he will make him work for his catches and yards.
After questioning the play-calling in a Week 15 loss to the Tennessee Titans in which he had three receptions on five targets, Kelce was targeted 12 times against Denver. Five of his 11 receptions produced first downs, including three on third-down plays.
Number of consecutive games decided by eight or fewer points before Kansas City beat Denver by 23 on Sunday. Those previous seven games (five wins, two losses) were decided by a total of 24 points, with one in overtime.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Stopping Joey: The Chiefs will have to be mindful of Chargers DE who is staking a claim to being defensive rookie of the year. Saturday, Bosa had two sacks, five tackles (four solo) with three tackles for losses and three quarterback hits. He has 91⁄ sacks despite signing late and missing time early in the season with a hamstring injury.
2. Running Alex: The Chiefs quarterback hasn’t run as much this season as in the past, but he had 46 yards rushing Sunday, including a touchdown and a 24-yard run.
The Chargers need RB to gain balance on offense and not be forced to have Rivers throw 46 times as he did Saturday when Gordon was out with an injury. Gordon is 3 yards short of reaching 1,000 for the season.
Howard Balzer