Chargers vs. Chiefs: Which Stars Will Shine on Monday Night Football?

After the Kansas City Chiefs began the season 0-3 and the San Diego Chargers got off to a 4-1 start, this Monday Night Football game looked like another poor job by the NFL schedule-makers. 

Prime time is supposed to be for the prime matchups, right?

None of this Ravens versus Jaguars 12-9 garbage. 

Well, after three-straight wins and the AFC West lead on the line, fans should finally be treated to some legitimate action tonight. 

This game isn't loaded with stars, but it has its fair share of very good football players. 

These three will make the biggest impact inside the always-boisterous Arrowhead Stadium...

Antonio Gates

Gates finally got to practice with this team for the entire week. It seems like that hasn't happened since the Chargers went to the white helmets. 

It hasn't been that long, but we should see a spike in the All-Pro tight end's production. 

He caught five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown last week, and now that all reports are indicating he's back to 100 percent, Gates is once again a terror for defensive coordinators. 

The Chiefs have good cover men on the outside, most namely Brandon Flowers, but Gates is nearly un-coverable down the seam and should be the favorite target of Philip Rivers all evening. 

I expect Gates to see the most targets and to have the biggest evening of any San Diego pass-catchers. 

Jackie Battle

Since Jamaal Charles went down with injury and Thomas Jones flamed out as a true feature back, Jackie Battle has been a productive runner for the Chiefs.

He averages a respectable 5.2 yards per carry and has received 19 and 16 carries in the last two games respectively.

I really had no idea who Battle was before he was shoved into the starting role, and I don't think many people did, either.

Turns out he played his college football at the University of Houston and went undrafted in 2007. 

Just more proof that sound running backs don't have to be drafted in the first round. 

Against the Jets, the Chargers were gashed for 162 yards on the ground, and Shonn Greene, a punishing player with a similar running style to that of Battle, averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Shaun Phillips didn't make the trip for San Diego, and although he's mostly known for his pass-rushing skills, he'll be missed stopping the run this evening.

A breakout game for Battle on national television.

Dwayne Bowe

This Pro Bowl receiver, much like the rest of the Chiefs' skill position players, got off to an extremely slow start this season. He went over 100 yards in the first two game in October and had six catches for 76 yards in the beat-down of the Raiders last week.

This guys is a monster at 6'2'', 221, and we saw how much trouble the Chargers secondary had with Plaxico Burress in the red zone last week.

Bowe is a far more complete receiver than Burress and will be on the highlight reel come Tuesday morning.