San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers continues to be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Chargers somehow keep managing to lose games. Despite Rivers throwing for over 300 yards in all but three games this season, the Chargers have lost their last five games, last winning when they played the Cleveland Browns in Week 4.
Chiefs vs. Chargers 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The streaking Chiefs will take on the rival Chargers Sunday. Philip Rivers has outplayed Alex Smith this year, but the Chargers are riding a five-game losing streak.
With a 2-7 record, competing for a playoff spot is essentially out of the question for Rivers and his team. But the Chargers will be motivated heading into Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the first of two in a four-week span.
The AFC West rival Chiefs haven't fared much better than the Chargers this season, but they are currently riding a three-game winning streak and there are some good teams in that list. The Chiefs managed to down both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the division-leading Denver Broncos.
The win over the Broncos was huge, and it came in their last game. Alex Smith had an Alex Smith game, completing 17 of 31 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs only managed to put up 106 yards on the ground, 33 of which came from Smith on six scrambles. But where the Chiefs really came up big was on defense. They picked off Peyton Manning four times, and forced the veteran signal caller to the bench.
Denver pulled Manning, replaced him with Brock Osweiler and the Chiefs promptly picked him off as well. Denver is known for its excellent offense this season, but the Chiefs held fast. They would not have been able to keep up with a prime Manning throwing the ball, though, which is where the Chargers have to be confident going into Sunday's game.
San Diego can’t halt the Chiefs the same way the Broncos were able to in their last game. The Chargers rank 22nd in the league in total defense, allowing 372.1 offensive yards per game. But Smith on his best day can’t keep up with Rivers even when he’s struggling.
Rivers has been lights out this season. He has completed 69.0 percent of his passes for 3,033 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s had two games over 400 yards this season, in one of which he threw for 503 yards. He also hasn’t thrown an interception in San Diego’s last two games.
He only threw for 280 yards in a loss to the Chicago Bears in his last game, but that is a higher total than Smith has thrown for in all but two games this year.
But the Chiefs have the momentum, and they have a more complete team overall. The offense ranks 26th in the league overall due to Smith’s low yardage totals, but on defense they come in at 13th and have played the pass well this year. One thing the Chiefs have done exceptionally well this year is limit mistakes and create turnovers. They’re second in the league in turnover differential at plus-8, with 16 takeaways and just eight giveaways.
How to watch
When: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
TV: CBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Online: NFL Game Pass
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