San Diego Chargers: Stat Projections for Starters and Key Reserves vs. Chiefs

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The San Diego Chargers will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss on Sunday as they visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Chargers were unable to score a touchdown in their game against the Atlanta Falcons last week.

For comparison's sake, the Chiefs scored 24 points against the Falcons in their first game of the season. However, they allowed a whopping 40 points to the Falcons' impressive offense.

Arrowhead Stadium is a difficult place to play for visiting teams, but the Chargers must come out of Kansas City with a win if they want to stay atop the AFC West standings.

Let's take a look at stat projections for the Chargers' starters and key reserves.

Philip Rivers

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Philip Rivers looked absolutely awful against the Atlanta Falcons.

Rivers put up a lackluster 173 yards through the air and threw two interceptions.

Rivers should have a much better game against a Chiefs' defense that allows opposing quarterbacks a quarterback rating of 114.3.

The Chiefs have also given up eight touchdowns through the air and only forced one interception.

Expect Rivers to have a big game on Sunday. 

 

Projection: 25-36, 280 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Running Backs

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Ryan Mathews' return last Sunday was supposed to be a cause for celebration, but he ended up fumbling the ball on a key possession.

Mathews will have a chance to redeem himself against a Chiefs' defense that was destroyed by CJ Spiller in the second week of the season.

Although Mathews has a fumbling problem, it seems that the Chiefs do not force many fumbles. They have forced one fumble on the year, and they were unable to recover the fumble.

Mathews will have a good game against a Chiefs' defense that gives up 4.7 yards per carry.

Jackie Battle will spell Mathews when he's tired, and Battle will pop off a few nice runs against his old team. 

 

Projections

Ryan Mathews: 17 carries, 85 rushing yards, four receptions, 30 receiving yards, one rushing touchdown

Jackie Battle: five carries, 25 yards

Wide Receivers

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Malcom Floyd has put up good stats as the No. 1 wide receiver for the Chargers, but he's had a few disappointing drops this season.

Robert Meachem's signing in the offseason was supposed to help replace Vincent Jackson, but Meachem has yet to develop a rapport with Philip Rivers.

Both players should have a good game against a poor Chiefs' passing defense.

This could also be the game in which Eddie Royal steps up and proves that he's deserving of more balls thrown his way. 

 

Projections

Malcom Floyd: six receptions, 80 yards, one touchdown

Robert Meachem: five receptions, 60 yards

Eddie Royal: three receptions, 30 yards 

Tight Ends

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Antonio Gates has been extremely disappointing this season. He has missed one game due to injury, and he's dropped a number of catchable throws from Philip Rivers.

Gates' fortunes should change against the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Chiefs have a very soft passing defense in the middle of the field, and Gates should be able to exploit the Chiefs' weakness. 

 

Projections

Antonio Gates: six receptions, 74 yards, two touchdowns

Dante Rosario: one reception, six yards

Defense

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The Chiefs run the ball a lot and throw lots of short passes, which means that the Chargers will rack up a high number of tackles on Sunday.

Matt Cassel has already been sacked 11 times this year, and the pressure he's been under has led to him throwing at least one interception in each Chiefs' game this season.

On Sunday, the Chargers will get a lot of tackles, a decent number of sacks and at least one interception. 

 

Projections (tackle totals include assisted tackles):

Atari Bigby: nine tackles, one pass defended, one tackle for loss

Donald Butler: eight tackles, one tackle for loss

Takeo Spikes: six tackles

Eric Weddle: six tackles, one pass defended, one interception

Quentin Jammer: five tackles, one pass defended

Antoine Cason: four tackles, one pass defended

Jarret Johnson: four tackles

Shaun Phillips: three tackles, one sack

Aubrayo Franklin: three tackles, one tackle for loss

Melvin Ingram: three tackles, one sack, one pass defended

Marcus Gilchrist: two tackles, one pass defended

Vaughn Martin: two tackles

Corey Liuget: two tackles

Antwan Barnes: one tackle, one sack

Special Teams

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The Chargers' special teams have put up good numbers so far.

Nate Kaeding has yet to miss a field goal, Mike Scifres has boomed his punts and Richard Goodman's returns have given the Chargers good field position.

All of this should continue against the Chiefs. 

 

Projections

Nate Kaeding: 1-for-1 on field goals, 4-for-4 on extra points

Mike Scifres: three punts, 153 yards, one punt inside the 20-yard line

Richard Goodman: two kick returns, 67 yards

Eddie Royal: two punt returns, 20 yards