Chiefs vs. Chargers: Complete Week 17 Preview for Kansas City
Update: This preview has been updated with the announcement of Alex Smith's injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a crucial Week 17 matchup with the San Diego Chargers, hoping to not only capture a win against their divisional opponent but also get some help from the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars in order to make the playoffs.
Although Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is one of the most prominent quarterbacks in the NFL today while trying to lead a high-powered offense, he still has some flaws that Kansas City can take advantage of to come away with a win. But with Kansas City's recent 1-4 fallout, can the team manage to find a way to win, or will they continue to struggle and conclude the season on a sour note?
The Chiefs do have plenty of blame to go around for the mishaps over the past five weeks; however, they still have a shot at sneaking into the playoffs. If the team can play to its strengths, it should come away with a win and maybe a playoff appearance.
Without Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, Kansas City will have backup Chase Daniel start in the regular season finale for the second consecutive season. Given that Daniel is a backup and San Diego has a good pass defense, the Chiefs may have to go run heavy.
The Chargers are good in the passing game on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 10 in throwing the ball and playing against the pass. The running game is the complete opposite as the team is 29th in rushing and 26th in defending the run. If Chiefs coach Andy Reid can make the right play calls during the game this week, the Chiefs have a winnable game ahead. Will Reid do a better job with the play-calling this week?
Week 16 Recap
1 of 5
In Week 16, the Chiefs played the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team with one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL, and they limited the offense to 20 points. The defense continued its dominance by not letting the opposing offense take away the game.
But when the Chiefs had the ball, the offense never came away with a touchdown as rookie kicker Cairo Santos collected all 12 of Kansas City's points. Despite scoring against the Chiefs, Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was held to 63 yards on 20 carries in the game. Wide receiver Antonio Brown pulled in seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
With a scary quarterback-running back-wide receiver trio, the Chiefs defense still found a way to keep the Steelers in check, giving the offense a chance to win.
Imbalance and missed opportunities have been the theme this year for the Chiefs, which ultimately will be the reason why they miss the playoffs if they don't make it.
News and Notes
2 of 5
Chiefs send four players to the Pro Bowl
The Chiefs were fortunate to have sent 10 players to the Pro Bowl last year as the team got plenty of attention during its 9-0 run. Due to some players being let go and a couple of others being injured, Kansas City won't send as much this year; however, having four Pro Bowlers is still something for fans to be proud of.
Running back Jamaal Charles, nose tackle Dontari Poe and outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston are all returning Pro Bowlers, adding to already impressive resumes.
Charles co-leads the league in touchdown scores and could finish as the league's top scorer for the second straight season among all non-kickers.
Defensively, Poe continues to play at a high level. He's been helpful against the run and has also made his presence known against the pass by pressuring quarterbacks. Hali and Houston benefit from Poe's presence on defense. With help against interior offensive linemen, Hali and Houston provide the pass rush from the outside and have been successful as a duo.
Justin Houston could make history
Houston leads the league in sacks with 18 and is just two away from tying Derrick Thomas for the franchise record for sacks in a single season while he is 4.5 sacks from breaking Michael Strahan's all-time 22.5-sack season set in 2001.
Tying Strahan's record would require Houston to have 4.5 sacks Sunday, tying his career best for most sacks in a game. Shattering the all-time league record is a bit of a reach, but Houston is very capable of tying Thomas' record.
Injury Report
3 of 5
| Bowe, Dwayne | WR | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | - | - |
| Charles, Jamaal | RB | Hamstring/Ankle | LP | LP | - | - |
| Fasano, Anthony | TE | Knee | LP | LP | - | - |
| Fulton, Zach | OG | Foot/Toe | DNP | DNP | - | - |
| Gaines, Phillip | CB | Illness | LP | LP | - | - |
| Hali, Tamba | LB | Knee | DNP | DNP | - | - |
| Martin, Josh | LB/DE | Hand | FP | FP | - | - |
| Mays, Joe | ILB | Knee | LP | LP | - | - |
Kansas City's injury report is down to just eight players, but a couple of starters in Dwayne Bowe and Hali have not participated in practice this week.
According to Larry Hartstein of CBSSports.com, Bowe suffered a shoulder sprain against the Steelers this past Sunday. If Bowe is unable to play, Albert Wilson will continue to see more action as he took a majority of the snaps for wide receivers on the team last week.
Per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com, Smith is out with a lacerated spleen.
Injury report courtesy of KCChiefs.com
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Key Matchups and X-Factor
4 of 5
OLB Justin Houston vs. RT D.J. Fluker
There are two reasons as to why Chiefs fans will keep a close eye on this matchup. For one, Houston is the team's best player, and he has always done anything he can to put the team in position to win. Second, Chiefs fans have enjoyed watching Houston and want to witness franchise history by tying or passing Thomas.
Houston could very well pass Thomas when he faces D.J. Fluker, who has surrendered five sacks this season. Even against some of the top-notch right tackles, Houston has come away with the upper hand, winning the battle each week.
RB Branden Oliver vs. Chiefs run defense
Despite limiting Bell, the Chiefs have struggled drastically when it comes to stopping the rush. Prior to being 1-4, the Chiefs were 20th in the league, dropping to 31st at one point, and they currently stand at 28th. Running backs Latavius Murray, C.J. Anderson and Kerwynn Williams have all had quiet careers, but all had 100-yard rushing games against the Chiefs.
Kansas City's defense has given up the third-fewest points per game this year, but it has surrendered 128 yards per game on the ground. If the Chargers utilize rookie running back Branden Oliver, or even a backup, then the Chargers should do well on the ground, and the Chiefs may play from behind for most of the game.
X-Factor: RB Jamaal Charles
Charles has not had a lot of touches during the last five games, yet he still remains as the most viable and the most productive offensive player for the Chiefs. Given that San Diego struggles against the run, it seems obvious that Reid needs to get away from his pass-heavy play-calling and let Charles take charge.
Prediction
5 of 5
The Chiefs are capable of beating a lot of teams in the NFL. The defense has not allowed more than 29 points in a game this year. You would think the offense would jump on that and take advantage, but it has not. Kansas City does not have a powerful offense, but it still has the weapons to get it done.
It looks simple on paper: Stick to your strengths, and execute against these teams. The Chiefs have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Charles, but Reid has approached games with a different offensive mindset going into games.
You would think after 16 weeks of an NFL season, Reid would have adjusted his play-calling, but he has not. It makes a lot of fans nervous, and it's hard to predict an outcome.
Given that I have given Reid the benefit of the doubt each week since I like the matchups on paper for the Chiefs, I'll continue to do so and hope it becomes true at some point. With Daniel going in under center, it is hard to imagine the Chiefs pass more than they run.
However, don't expect the Chiefs to make the playoffs. The Cleveland Browns must defeat the Baltimore Ravens, and the Jacksonville Jaguars must beat the Houston Texans. Both of the Browns and the Jaguars are on the road, and neither have an offense that can do anything. The Chiefs did get a miracle playoff spot in 2006, but those moments are extremely rare.
Prediction: Chiefs 21, Chargers 17
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
