The Chargers and Chiefs are set to be featured in primetime on Monday Night Football.
Here are three key matchups to watch that could ultimately determine the outcome of the game:
CB Casey Hayward vs. WR Tyreek Hill
Hayward continues to shutdown the league’s most prolific wideouts on a weekly basis, but now, he will be tasked with limiting not only one of the best, but the fastest that he’s faced this season.
Since missing the first four games of the season due to suspension, Hill has come back and has been a headache for opposing secondaries. He has scored five touchdowns in the last four games. Over his last two performances, Hill is averaging 148.5 receiving per game.
Hayward will have to keep Hill in front of him and eliminate the dink and dunk plays turning into big plays. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins will have a bigger role as he needs to come up and make plays from the single high role, whether that be as an open-field tackler or breaking up deep passes.
Chargers offensive line vs. Chiefs defensive line
The Chargers are preparing to play without their two starting offensive tackles — Russell Okung and Sam Tevi. In place of the two, rookie Trey Pipkins and Trent Scott will be forced to slow down a Chiefs front that has amassed 52 sacks on the season, which ranks No. 1 in the NFL.
Leading the pack is defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Clark has four sacks and two forced fumbles. Meanwhile, Jones has picked up three of his five sacks over the past five contests.
Pipkins and Scott will have their hands full, as well as guard Dan Feeney and center Scott Quessenberry, who’s been solid since taking over Mike Pouncey. Keeping Rivers clean throughout the game will be key if they wish to have better offensive production than last week’s woeful outing against the Raiders.
Chargers pass rush vs. QB Patrick Mahomes
If the Chargers wish to slow down the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player, the only way they will be able to is create pressure and make him feel uncomfortable. Mahomes is very difficult to stop because he extends plays with ease, but the Bolts have the players that can affect him.
Defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram have been on a tear as of late and are starting to string things together as a tandem. Facing a Kansas City offensive line that has been hindered by injuries, it could be the recipe for success.
If Bosa and Ingram are able to wreak havoc up front, it’ll make it difficult to find his plethora of playmakers, which include Hill, wide receiver Mecole Hardman and tight end Travis Kelce.
“It might be a tough ask to limit him too much, because, obviously, he’s such a great player. Just try to keep him in the pocket and affect him with that pass rush,” Bosa said.
