The Chargers picked a brutal season to take a massive step back under Jim Harbaugh, and now they’re staring down a Chiefs squad that is absolutely firing on all cylinders. While the Raiders look better and the Broncos are, well, still fine enough, the Chiefs are just back to being the Chiefs, a true buzzsaw. If the Bolts were rocking their 2024 form, maybe they could scrap for the division, but right now? Their form is plain ugly, and it’s not looking good for this week’s matchup.
Chargers Offense Is Stuck in the Mud, Defense Trying to Hold On
This Chargers offense is just straight-up horrendous at passing the football. They’re dead last in the league, ranking 30th with a measly 164.6 passing yards per game, and their 16.8 points per game is also 30th overall. Seriously, 30th in passing and 30th in points? That’s rough, folks. QB Justin Herbert has only managed 937 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. It doesn’t help that they’re likely rolling out three to four rookies again, which, let’s be real, pretty much guarantees abysmal play and another loss in the column. The one bright spot? Their run game is actually a top-10 unit, clocking 128.2 rushing yards per game to rank 9th. RB Omarion Hampton is pulling his weight with 271 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Tre’ Haris leads the receiving corps with 225 yards and 15 receptions, but with five other players tied at one receiving touchdown, the passing game is clearly lacking a consistent threat. A top-10 run game just isn’t enough to compete against a team like Mahomes and Co.
On the defensive side, the Chargers are a bit better, but still giving up too many points. They’re 10th in total yards allowed at 311.6 per game and a respectable 6th in passing yards allowed at 193.0. Khalil Mack is still a force, racking up 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Genesis Smith has 2 interceptions, and Daiyan Henley leads with 32 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. But giving up 25.8 points per game, which puts them 22nd in the league, is a problem. They’re clearly being asked to do too much when the offense can’t move the ball.
Chiefs Are Unstoppable With a Brand New Weapon
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are just doing Chiefs things, only scarier. They are once again a top offense, combined with a seriously good defense. Patrick Mahomes now has what could be the best run game he’s ever had, meaning you can’t focus on just one side of their attack. They’ll beat you either way, and that’s a nightmare for any opposing defense. Their offense is putting up 412.0 total yards per game, good for 2nd in the NFL, and 29.5 points per game, ranking 5th. Mahomes is still slinging it, with 249.8 passing yards per game (9th), but the real kicker is that run game: 162.3 rushing yards per game, 4th in the league. That balance makes them nearly impossible to stop.
Looking ahead, it’s hard to see a path for the Chargers against this Chiefs team. With their offensive struggles, especially the passing game, and the Chiefs’ newfound balance on offense paired with a strong defense, it feels like this game is set up to be another tough one for the Bolts. We’ll have to see if those rookies can surprise anyone, but the odds are stacked high against them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bolts from the Blue.
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