NFL Predictions Week 3: Chiefs Will Endure Another Blowout vs. Chargers

Believe it or not, there are reasons to be optimistic about the way the Kansas City Chiefs have started their 2011 season.

Actually, I just double checked: there are none. In fact, it's been pretty brutal.

You've probably noticed as much. The Chiefs were stomped by the Buffalo Bills 41-7 in Week 1, and then emasculated by Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions 48-3 in Week 2.

If you take a look at the rankings, you will find that the Chiefs are both the worst offensive team and the worst defensive team in the NFL. Not helping matters is the fact that they have lost their best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) and their best defensive player (Eric Berry) for the season with torn ACLs.

Things might get better for the Chiefs in Week 3, but methinks they won't. Not if the San Diego Chargers have anything to say about it, anyway.

Ah yes, the Chargers. While the Chiefs have been busy looking like a Pop Warner team, the Chargers are looking an awful lot like the Chargers. That is to say they're looking like underachievers, as they opened with a just-barely win over the woeful Minnesota Vikings and were then outclassed by the New England Patriots. As always, there's a good team somewhere in San Diego, but it just hasn't arrived yet.

Typically, this good team takes until about Week 7 to finally show up. But this year, the process will be expedited the minute the Chiefs step out into Qualcomm Stadium Sunday. Next to them, the underachieving Chargers will look like a team sent from the football heavens.

I foresee another brutal beating for the Chiefs. Philip Rivers will be his typical self, and he should be able to reestablish his connection with Antonio Gates with Berry out of the picture. He'll also have fun throwing the ball to Vincent Jackson, who was last seen putting on a clinic against the Pats.

I would discuss Kansas City's offense, but it's hardly worth discussing without Charles. With him gone, there's an added amount of pressure on Matt Cassel's head, and he hasn't done much to show that he's capable of bearing it. In fact, his 50.4 QB rating is second to last in the league, just above Luke McCown.

Yup, Cassel's been that bad, which is saying something.

Admittedly, I'm being mean to the Chiefs. If you're offended by that, I apologize. But they're just so bad. Rest assured, this is not going to change on Sunday.

Prediction: Chargers 42, Chiefs 10.