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Somehow, the Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated and not the biggest talking point in the NFL.
The Chiefs’ 5-0 start has been somewhat under the radar, even though they’ve never lacked for attention during their dynasty. But the Chiefs keep winning, as they completely outplayed an undermanned and underachieving Los Angeles Chargers team. The Chiefs won 22-6 and were never challenged.
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Part of that was the absolute misery of the Chargers, who are 0-6 and came into Sunday without several key players including both starting offensive tackles and star safety Derwin James Jr. They also lost receiver Ladd McConkey to a concussion in the first half.
The Chargers are at a low point, but give the Chiefs credit for handling them without much of a sweat. They’re 5-0 and looking like a Super Bowl contender, although it has been pretty quiet surrounding their hot start.
Kenneth Walker III continues hot start
The first half was absolute domination by the Chiefs.
They out-gained the Chargers 268-103. Justin Herbert was held to 45 yards passing. He had one interception, no touchdowns and a 22.9 passer rating. The Chargers are decimated on the offensive line and that is affecting Herbert’s play, but Herbert wasn’t playing well early in the season when the line was healthier than it is now. On Sunday, the Chiefs defense made sure he didn’t have a chance.
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The Chiefs offense is much different than in years past and that’s because it features Kenneth Walker III. Walker, a free agent addition after winning Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks, scored two more touchdowns in the first half. He had 100 yards rushing midway through the third quarter.
Patrick Mahomes threw a bad interception into the end zone to finish one first-half drive, Walker was stopped on fourth-and-goal inside the 1-yard line in the second half and it didn’t even matter because the Chiefs were controlling every aspect of the game. In one sequence, the Chargers had to punt after a quick there-and-out when they were backed up at their 1-yard line, following the goal-line stop on Walker. The Chiefs fumbled away the punt return, but the defense came back on the field and forced another three-and-out. The Chargers couldn’t get anything going against the Chiefs defense.
It’s the kind of performance the Chiefs have had often during their great run with Mahomes, though it didn’t happen much last season.
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Chiefs win never in danger
The Chiefs were 6-11 last season, Mahomes tore his ACL late in the season and there were questions over whether Kansas City’s dynasty was over. it appears it’s back on track, though there’s still plenty of season to be played.
All signs are positive early in the season. The defense has been good and the offense has been reshaped with Walker taking a lot of pressure off Mahomes. Dynasties can evolve and it seems the Chiefs are doing that.
The Chiefs didn’t play their best in the second half but they were also not going to lose to a Chargers team that hardly resembles an NFL team at this point of the season. Kansas City’s defense never allowed the Chargers to get in a rhythm and while the Chiefs’ offense bogged down, they did enough to get the win.
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The AFC has plenty of viable contenders this season, like the Bills, Ravens, Jaguars and Patriots. The Chiefs are right in that mix. And after six weeks, they’re the only team in the conference that’s undefeated.
