Coming off the bye, the Kansas City Chiefs entered this game looking to go 3-0 against AFC West opponents this season. It was evident from the jump who the better team was. The Chiefs didn’t play a perfect game, and at times it felt like they were coasting, but they dominated all four quarters.
Kansas City’s pass rushers and standout running back Kenneth Walker III were especially impressive in the Chiefs’ 22-6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here are five things we learned from the Chiefs stealing the Chargers’ lunch money:
1. K9 is not just the top dog; he’s the NFL MVP
Through the first six weeks of the season, this isn’t even up for debate. I know the NFL decided in some nefarious back-channel meeting that the NFL MVP is now a quarterback award. The only exception is when a running back is having a truly transcendent year—well, Kenneth Walker III is doing just that.
Over five games, Walker has 665 rushing yards and averages 6.2 yards per carry, with eight total touchdowns. For reference, the last time a non-quarterback won the NFL MVP was in 2012 when Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won the award.
That season, Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards and 13 total touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. Before Peterson won the award, you have to go back to 2006 to find the next season a non-quarterback won the MVP. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson won that year. Interestingly, in 2005, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander also won MVP.
In 2006, Tomlinson ran for 1,815 yards and 31 total touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
In 2005, Alexander ran 1,880 yards and 28 total touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
It’s still early, and Walker needs to keep up this pace and stay healthy for the rest of the season, but right now, Walker is on pace to rush for 2,260 yards and 27 total touchdowns.
Those numbers would not only surpass Peterson’s 2012 MVP campaign, but also beat Los Angeles Rams Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards that has stood since 1984.
Even more impressive. He’s on pace for 2,583 all-purpose yards, which would also beat Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson’s 2009 record of 2,509 yards,
Walker isn’t just on pace for a great season; he’s on pace for the greatest season of any running back in NFL history.
2. Chiefs are the Kings of the West
It feels good to be back on the throne. With this victory over the Chargers, the Chiefs have ensured they will have at least a .500 record against AFC West opponents this season. With the Las Vegas Raiders losing to the Buffalo Bills, the Raiders are 3-3, and the Denver Broncos are the Chiefs’ next closest opponents at 4-2.
But let’s be honest: after watching Bo Nix’s ineptitude and the rest of Denver’s offense, do you really think they have what it takes to catch up with the Chiefs?
As for the Chargers, they look like the worst team in the NFL. No, they look worse than bad. They look cursed.
Sports have a long history of cursed franchises. The reasons a franchise might be cursed range from how fans treat it to trading a legendary player.
In the Chargers case, I’m going to jump to an unfounded conclusion and say it’s because they left San Diego.
They are being punished from the great beyond by a spirit who is angry they relocated to Los Angeles. San Diego loved that franchise, and they left it for the bright lights of Hollywood.
The only question is, whose spirit is responsible for tormenting them?
Personally, as a Chiefs fan, I hope it’s Marty Schottenheimer.
3. Nikko Remigio is not as dependable as we were told
We were told Nikko Remigio was the Chiefs’ kick and punt returner because he was dependable and does not put the ball on the ground. Well, that changed in this game. He fumbled once and nearly fumbled again, but he was saved because he was down by a hair.
The Chiefs also had a block in the back on the play where Remigio fumbled.
Harrison Butker missed a point-after attempt and has only made 25% of his attempts from 50+ yards. It doesn’t matter if you can kick the ball a mile if you can’t kick it straight.
4. A bad offensive line makes your pass rush look awesome
Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis brought his hardhat and lunchpail to work today, and proceeded to abuse the Chargers’ battered offensive line. In fact, nearly everyone joined in on the fun of bullying the human-shaped cutouts the Chargers propped up in front of Justin Herbert.
Ashton Gillotte, Peter Woods, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah all hit the quarterback.
And just like their last game against the Raiders, when the Chiefs needed somebody to step up and close out the game, the pass rush showed up, with R Mason Thomas beating his man around the edge and hitting Justin Herbert’s arm as he threw.
5. The Chiefs need Josh Simmons
Not because the offensive line played bad today. On the contrary, I thought it was one of their better games this season. But they also took their lumps.
Right tackle Jaylon Moore left the game with a concussion.
Left guard Suamataia had a calf stinger.
Diego Pounds has been inactive all season.
But even if fully healthy, the Chiefs didn’t have much depth on the offensive line.
Despite playing admirably, I don’t feel great about the Chiefs running out Kahlil Benson and Joshua Ezeudu for a full four quarters against the Seahawks next week.
