The Los Angeles Chargers (5-4, 2-2 home) host the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2, 3-1 away) to wrap up Sunday’s slate of NFL contests on Sunday Night Football. Kansas City knocked off Los Angeles in Week 2, trumping the Chargers 27-24 in Kansas City.
Sunday’s AFC West tilt kicks off at 8:20 p.m. EST inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kansas City is a 5.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 52.5 points.
What to Know – Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City rolls into Week 11 of the NFL season, riding a three-game winning streak. The Chiefs sit atop the AFC West Division, holding a two-game lead over the Chargers with two months to play.
Starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to operate at a high-level and stay injury free for the Chiefs. Mahomes leads the NFL with 2,936 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes. He ranks second in QB Rating with a 78.7 and is completing 66.2% of his throws.
The attempts out of the backfield have been split between Clyde Edwards-Helaire and rookie running back Isiah Pacheco. Edwards-Helaire leads the duo with 69 carries for 293 yards and three touchdowns, while Pacheco adds 279 yards and a touchdown on 60 touches.
Travis Kelce is Mahomes’ favorite target out wide, ranking sixth in receptions (63) and tied for first in touchdown catches (8). Kansas City will be without the services of wide receivers Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and backup tight end Blake Bell due to injuries.
What to Know – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have had an up-and-down season but remain in the playoff picture, trailing the Chiefs by only two games in the division. Los Angeles has dropped two of its last three, including a 22-16 defeat last week to the San Francisco 49ers.
Justin Herbert is in his third season in the NFL and second as the starter under center for the Chargers. Herbert ranks seventh in passing yards (2,450), is tied for ninth in passing touchdowns (14), and 15th in QBR (55.3). The 24-year-old has thrown an interception in four-straight contests.
Starting running back Austin Ekeler is only averaging 50.1 yards per game on the ground but is the Chargers’ second-leading receiver and leads the team with 67 receptions. Ekeler has scored six touchdowns on the ground and four through the air, a team-high in both categories.
Herbert has been without starting wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, both questionable for Sunday night’s showdown. If neither can go, wide receiver Josh Palmer and DeAndre Carter become Herbert’s primary targets.
The Pick is In
The two teams are dealing with injuries at wideout, which could hamper the offensive production. Kansas City and Los Angeles have scored below their averages over the last two weeks, and this contest and the total seem a bit too high for teams without key pieces of the offense. Points will be scored, but this one stays under.
The Pick: Kansas City/Los Angeles UNDER 52.5
