The Chiefs’ 2025 season has hit a rough patch, but the Chargers still show the kind of respect a fierce rivalry deserves.
Even as Kansas City’s 20-10 defeat to the Houston Texans on Sunday fuels talk that the year may be slipping away, the calendar isn’t finished yet. Kansas City doesn’t need to control its fate, but a narrow path to the postseason remains if they win out.
To keep those hopes alive, the Chiefs must take care of business in their remaining games, starting with the AFC West rematch against the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Their Week 1 clash in São Paulo, Brazil — a 27-21 Chargers victory — forecasted some of the issues that have troubled Kansas City this season.
Early in that opener, a collision between tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Xavier Worthy left Worthy with a dislocated shoulder and set a negative tone for the offense before it truly found its rhythm, while the defense struggled to respond.
That defeat ended Kansas City’s seven-game win streak against Los Angeles. Yet the 9-4 Chargers remain a formidable test as they prepare to host the defending conference champions, who bring a 6-7 record into the week.
“It’s the time of year when everyone is competing,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday. “Everybody’s fighting for a playoff life — and that’s what it’s going to be. It will be a great and, frankly, glorious, competitive environment.”
“They’re still a very good team,” added Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who expects a typically hostile atmosphere. “We have immense respect for them — and they’re better than their record shows. They’ve played lots of tight, hard-fought games.”
Herbert is 3-7 in his career against Kansas City and anticipates a physical, closely contested showdown.
“You don’t stroll in and dominate any team,” he said. “They’re skilled, and we have to be locked in this week: study the film, practice hard, and stay disciplined.”
While Kansas City currently sits outside the playoff picture, only one of its losses has come by more than a touchdown. Expect a coach’s battle and a game that stays within reach, much like the Chiefs’ last four meetings with the Chargers, each decided by a single score.
During their dominant era, the Chiefs frequently closed out tight games against L.A. Can they recapture that knack now? With their season hanging in the balance, every moment, every drive, and every stop counts more than ever.
