Three keys to the game for the Chiefs against the Chargers in week four

While the Chiefs have not had a huge margin of victory in their 3-0 start, Sunday's matchup is as good of a one as they'll have all season. Here are three keys to a Chiefs dominant performance.

There are a lot of unknowns for heading into the Kansas City Chiefs matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. At least for the Chargers, there are. On Wednesday afternoon when the injury reports came out every single Chief participated in practice fully, while the Chargers had Justin Herbert listed as limited with both offensive tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater and defensive end Joey Bosa not practicing at all. All-star safety Derwin James is suspended for this game as well. 

The only thing known about the Chargers is that they will not even be close to full strength. If Herbert does not go, Taylor Heinike will take the start behind what will likely be two backup tackles. With that said, the Chiefs and Chargers have only had one game decided by a double-digit margin in their last 10 games, so long as it was not a final week throw-away game where the Chiefs sat their starters. 

Heading into the year, Los Angeles was touted as a team that was not all that talented in the first place, although they would be well-coached for the first time in several years. Even though Kansas City might be heading out to Southern California to face their divisional foe’s C-team, Chiefs Kingdom somehow knows this game will get weird, somehow, some way. In 2023 the Chiefs only won a game by two touchdowns in the week three game against the Chicago Bears and the wild card game against the Miami Dolphins. 

It is certainly not their M-O to empty their bag in the regular season and it also seems to be a theme that they play down to whatever their competition is. This is as good of a chance as any to figure out the offense and have a comfortable Sunday afternoon though. Here are the three keys to making that happen.