Can Kansas City continue their winning ways on the road?

With a two game winning streak under their belt, the Chiefs are in rarified air for them.  As coach Todd Haley likes to say, the season is cut into four quarters and right now his team is unbeaten in the third quarter of the season, but a large roadblock lies ahead.

The Chargers are hot.  They’ve actually made their late season rush about a month early and they’ve stormed back to presently lead the AFC West by a half game after the Broncos win over the Giants on Thanksgiving.

Plain and simple, the Chiefs don’t match up with San Diego.  They didn’t match up with the Steelers either, but somehow managed to pull off a win.  The problems for KC is this game is on the road and in recent weeks the Chargers seem to have found their running attack that had been lost in the wilderness.

With a ground game to back Philip Rivers, the Chargers air game is better.  Antonio Gates is healthy and back to being a primary receiver for Rivers.  Statistically the Chargers don’t scare you, but they still manage to put 27 points a game on the board to the Chiefs 17.  

For KC to win, they’ll have to win the turnover battle like they did against Pittsburgh. Last week, the Chiefs also won the special teams advantage, this week, they be taking on a team that has its own standout special teams.

Offensively, Jamaal Charles was special teams player of the week in the AFC and is averaging almost five yards a carry as a runner, but the Chiefs don’t think he can take a pounding week after week of more than 20 touches or so a game.  Kolby Smith has practiced this week despite an ankle injury and the Chiefs would like him to be able carry some of the load.   

Defensively, Maurice Leggett has been lost for the season, which will put even more pressure on the secondary against Rivers.  The young and improving KC defensive line needs to take another step forward against the Chargers, who will be missing Jeromey Clary at right tackle.  Jon Runyan has been signed to step in.  

Expect to see more of the gambling defense KC showed last week with linebacker and safety blitzes, but don’t expect another surprising win this time around.