Thursday Night Football Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers

In a rematch of 2021's late-season classic, the Kansas City Chiefs host their division rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football. In Week 15 of last year, the Chiefs edged out a 34-28 overtime victory in Los Angeles thanks to a 34-yard game-winning touchdown by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. The teams do battle again this week as two squads eager to declare themselves the cream of the crop in not only the AFC West but the entire NFL. The Chiefs are 4-point favorites to win.

The Chiefs are coming off a dominant 44-21 showing against the Arizona Cardinals that earned quarterback Patrick Mahomes AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Mahomes has not been without his issues in each of his previous two games against the Chargers, accounting for four total turnovers including a game-sealing interception when the Chiefs last hosted the Chargers in Week 3 of 2021. He'll also be facing the Bolts without his long-time favorite wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who accounted for a combined 204 yards receiving and one touchdown in their two meetings last year.

The Chargers will look to build on a startling defensive effort that smothered the Las Vegas Raiders in a 24-19 Week 1 victory. Los Angeles forced three interceptions and five sacks against Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, including a pair of consecutive sacks on third and fourth down to end the Raiders' final drive. If efforts like this one become the norm in Los Angeles, then the Chargers could finally have a defense that compliments superstar quarterback Justin Herbert rather than sabotages him. The Chargers missed the playoffs in 2021 despite their fifth-ranked scoring offense due in large part to a defense that allowed the fourth-most points in the league.

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football.