THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

BY ADAM GREENE

Our first ever Amazon Prime exclusive Thursday Night Football match up could end up being a battle for the AFC West title. The Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert travel to the Midwest to take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit Jeff Bezos debut.

As two of the original AFL franchises, the Chargers and Chiefs have a longstanding rivalry. This will be the 125^th all time meeting, with KC holding a 65-58-1 advantage in the head to head record. It’s been significantly one-sided over the last eight or so years, with Kansas City winning 13 of their last 16 games. But LA has turned the tide in recent campaigns, securing season splits in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

In their last meeting on Dec. 16, 2021, the Chiefs won 34-28. Mahomes threw for 410 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the victory. Tyreek Hill (who is now a Miami Dolphin) caught 12 passes for 148 yards and a TD. Travis Kelce had 10 catches for 191 yards and two scores. For LA, Herbert was good for 236 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. Justin Jackson rushed for 86 yards and Keenan Allen hauled in six balls for 78 yards and a TD.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (-4.5, O/U: 54.5)

Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Broadcast: Amazon Prime Video

Kickoff: Sep. 15, 8:15 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-0)

The Chargers opened their 2022 campaign in the best way — getting revenge for the way their 2021 season ended. They knocked off the Las Vegas Raiders, 24-19. Herbert was on all game, completing 26 of 34 for 279 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He did it without much of a running game. LA gained just 76 total yards as a team. He spread the ball around to nine different receivers, led by Keenan Allen who caught four passes for 66 yards. Deandre Carter hauled in three for 64 and a TD. Gerald Everett caught three himself for 54 yards and a score.

Khalil Mack, in his first live action as a Charger, sacked Derek Carr three times. In all, LA’s defense put Carr down six times and picked him off three times.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0)

Kansas City absolutely kerblasted the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday to the tune of 44-21 on the road in a game that was never in doubt from the opening kickoff. Mahomes was his usual self, going 30 of 39 for 360 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He was not sacked once. Isaih Pacheco carried the ball 12 times for 62 yards and a score. Travice Kelce had eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. JuJu Smith-Schuster showed up, hauling in six catches for 79 yards. The defense sacked Kyler Murray three times.

THE PICK

This is a match up that probably isn’t even roster wise. The Chargers have an advantage there, but Mahomes is Mahomes and that makes all the difference. I think LA and KC will split this year again, so I’m going with the home team this time. But I don’t care for the spread. Chiefs 31, Chargers 30

Last week

Straight up: 10-5-1

Against the spread: 9-7

Season

Straight up: 10-5-1

Against the spread: 9-7

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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