Chiefs, Chargers set for crucial clash
AFC West rivals Kansas City and LA battle for division lead, Lions out to keep play-off hopes alive
>> KANSAS CITY: The Kansas City Chiefs host the surging Los Angeles Chargers in a crucial NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium today.
For the two teams with the same 7-6 record, win this and you have the inside track to the AFC West title.
The Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders, 26-15, at Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday to remain locked in a first-place tie atop the AFC West with the Chargers.
Kansas City, led by quarterback Alex Smith, had a 24-20 win in September, when they were starting off 5-0. They broke a four-game slide with a big victory over Oakland.
The Bolts have been, well, charging, winning four straight and seven of nine, their best nine-game stretch since 2010. But they’ve dropped seven in a row to the Chiefs.
The last time the Chargers beat the Chiefs was Dec 29, 2013 — a Week 17 contest at Qualcomm Stadium that the Chargers won in overtime, 27-24.
That victory clinched a postseason berth for the Chargers.
“It’s a big game. I think it’s important to know what’s at stake — which I think we all do — but at the same time to keep the same approach we’ve had that’s been working,” Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers told reporters this week.
The Chargers are seeking their first five-game winning streak since 2014. That winning approach Rivers alluded to is creating turnovers on defence and winning on third down on offence.
Since Week 5, the Chargers have forced a league-leading 20 turnovers and turned it over just six times during that stretch — also tops in the NFL.
The Rivers-led offence also has been much more successful on third down, with a 42-percent efficiency rate on the money down since Week 5, which ranks No.7 in the NFL.
In the other NFL game today, the Detroit Lions host the NFC North rivals Chicago Bears at Ford Field.
Although the Lions (7-6) are mathematically in the play-off chase, they sure don’t look much like a threat. Except, perhaps, to the Bears (4-9): Detroit have won eight of nine against Chicago.
Five of the past nine Bears-Lions games have been decided by a field goal or less. And the previous two times the Bears played at Ford Field, they lost by a combined six points.
PINK JOINS SUPER BOWL CAST
Singer Pink is the latest act to join the list of stars performing in Minneapolis during Super Bowl week.
The American will perform Friday, Feb 2, at Nomadic Live! in the refurbished Minneapolis Armory building.
Imagine Dragons will headline the EA Sports Bowl on Thursday, Feb 1, at the Armory. Jennifer Lopez will also perform in the building near US Bank Stadium on Saturday, Feb 3.
Super Bowl week will be packed with entertainment. Performers at various venues include The Chainsmokers, Florida Georgia Line and the Dave Matthews Band. A 10-day free concert series features a “Prince night” and local acts such as Soul Asylum and Mint Condition.
Gwen Stefani will close out the week on Sunday, Feb 4, at Club Nomadic at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.