via www.stadiumsofprofootball.com

Happy Game Day! Time for the Chargers to lose again. Today's key to the game is pretty simple. I will be wearing my DJ away jersey. Last week was the first time I had ever worn it. What happened? That's right ,Victory. I didn't mention this fact earlier because I was sure that I would cause some trade to happen and thereby remove any jersey mojo. Anyway, on to the news. 

Game Day Weather

Today: Scattered showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. South southwest wind between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

From The National Weather Service

There is so much that the Chiefs must show on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Chargers.

Some sort of consistent offensive performance is badly overdue and it would certainly help matters if they can run the football. The kicking game has been the most consistent part of the Chiefs through six games and it must be so again because San Diego brings in the biggest little man in the game, Olathe’s Darren Sproles.

And more than anything, on Sunday we find out just who should get credit for the defensive performance of the Chiefs in their victory last week against Washington.

Was it the Chiefs defense coming together and implementing Clancy Pendergast’s plan that did not allow a touchdown? Or, was it an out of synch, out of sorts and out of whack Redskins offense that could not score a touchdown?

Defense Needs Big Day … Game-Day Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz

Derrick Johnson is pacing in a hallway, trying to find the words. He says he has no idea where he stands with the Chiefs. He didn’t watch television on Tuesday because that was the NFL’s trade deadline. He couldn’t relax on his day off at the same time he was worrying about his future.

Johnson wasn’t traded. It is less than 24 hours after the deadline passed, and emotions are taking hold. Anger and confusion pinch hardest.

“You don’t really know,” he says, barely above a whisper. “I know I’m right for this defense. I’m right for this team. I’m versatile. I can fit in any kind of defense, really. I don’t know, man. I don’t know.”

Johnson doesn’t know because the Chiefs don’t want him to know. He was demoted weeks ago. A few injuries. A few weak practices. Down to third-string at linebacker he went, no explanation provided. The team wants players to do precisely what Johnson is doing: walking around without answers, but determined to uncover them and improve enough that the Chiefs have no choice but to play him.

Haley’s desire to find right players keeps Chiefs on their toes from KC Star

In pre-game ceremonies, the late Lamar Hunt will be celebrated with ceremonies honoring the designation of a stretch of I-435 as the Lamar Hunt Memorial Highway. Signs will be erected northbound near the Stadium Drive/Raytown Road exit, and southbound near the 48th Street and Worlds of Fun exit. Various polilticos will be on the field along with members of the Hunt family.

Also in ceremonies before the game, the military will be honored, including a flyover by four helicopters from the Assault Helicopter Battalion out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Serving as honor captain for the pre-game coin toss will be Major General Donald Campbell. He is currently the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and is a graduate of Kansas State.

Lamar & Military Honored On Sunday from Bob Gretz

Bottom line

Each team can rightly view this game as a potential victory. The Chiefs may be making progress but still have plenty of issues holding them back. San Diego is likewise vulnerable in many areas. So this game will go to the team best able to exploit its opponent’s weaknesses. The Chiefs will need to score some points to win this game but, even against the Chargers, may not be up to that. Prediction: Chargers 23, Chiefs 17.

Chiefs-Chargers scouting report from KC Star

1. LT VS. LJ: Once this was THE matchup among NFL running backs, LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Larry Johnson. But the last time both were in peak form for a Chargers-Chiefs game was September 2007. Both seem healthy now, but whether each can ever run the way they did in their prime is debatable. Tomlinson looked good against Denver on Monday – when he had room to run. And that shouldn't be a problem today, at least based on statistics that show the Chiefs giving up 4.5 yards per carry. So maybe, just maybe, this is the day the Chargers finally gain 100 yards rushing. As for Johnson, he's averaging just 2.7 yards per rush and no Chief has rushed for a TD in six games. Then again, they haven't faced the Chargers, who have yielded 141 yards per game on the ground.

Chargers-Chiefs: Five things to watch from The San Diego Union-Tribune

KC Star Video: Chiefs' LJ talks about Cassel

Can the Kansas City Chiefs win consecutive games for the first time since October 2007?

 

My hunch: Yes. They're playing at home today against San Diego and the Chargers didn't show much in last Monday night's 34-23 home loss to Denver. San Diego had no pass rush, LaDainian Tomlinson was ineffective running the football behind a weak line (the Chargers are averaging 57.6 yards rushing per game) and coach Norv Turner appeared clueless on the sidelines. The Chiefs aren't a good team, but they're at least young and appear enthusiastic.

7-0 start not likely for Favre from DemocratandChronicle.com

Don’t let the final score fool you.

It took two late touchdowns in a span of 8 seconds late in the fourth quarter before the Chiefs were assured of a 42-22 victory over Cincinnati in front of 50,934 at Municipal Stadium -- the largest crowd for a sporting event in Kansas City history.

With the Chiefs nursing a 28-22 lead, Warren McVea, who had been acquired from the Bengals earlier in the season, swept left end, cut across the field and bolted 80 yards for a touchdown with 1 minute, 45 seconds to play.

On the ensuing kickoff, Gordie Sellers picked up a Bengal fumble and dashed 19 yards for an insurance touchdown and the final margin of victory.

Chiefs flashback: Game 7, Oct. 26, 1969: Chiefs 42, Bengals 22 from KC Star

Adam Teicher

 

Kansas City Star

 

 

Kansas City may be making progress but still has plenty of issues holding it back. The Chiefs will need to score some points to win this game but, even against the Chargers, may not be up to that task.

 

 

Chargers 23, Chiefs 17.

Predictions for Chargers vs. Chiefs from The San Diego Union-Tribune

AccuScore runs 10,000 computer simulations of NFL games, one play at a time to project the likely outcome. Here is its assessment of today's Chargers game against the Chiefs:

San Diego lost to Denver because it could not stop Kyle Orton from completing third-down passes and its special teams could not stop Eddie Royal.

The Chiefs have just one win this season and have not been nearly as good offensively and defensively as the Broncos this year. AccuScore gives the favored Chargers a 68 percent chance of getting a much-needed win and in 10,000 simulations the Chargers win by an average score of 25-19.

AccuScore analysis of Chargers-Chiefs from San Diego Union-Tribune

Player Tweets

ToonIcon My sis Boyfriend. Scored in PSU vs M. Game. Cheaaaaaaa!

ToonIcon Clipse - "Popular Demand"!!!!!!!!!!!!

Media and Fans

ArrowheadPride Man I can't go out on a Saturday night without worrying about being by a computer for Chiefs news! C'mon on Chiefs! :)

Adam_Schefter This is BIG time: 112 across in the Sunday NY Times crossword puzzle - the Sunday crossword! - is my buddy Peter King. Wow!

RhondaVincent13: I'm in Kansas City, Missouri. I'll be singing the National Anthem at Arrowhead Stadium for 80,000 raging football fans. Chiefs vs Chargers

dylansprague: @RhondaVincent13 if u haven't been told... Last line is "...and the home of the CHIEFS!!!!..." good luck

fan4ever31: Going to bed then church then chiefs game then choir practice then church then who knows

Bobby_Topaz: Hopes the Chiefs can pull the upset tomorrow. Good luck 27, you are gonna need it!

AdinaRaye: I'm just gonna put this out there now - my Kansas City Chiefs are going to beat the San Diego Chargers tomorrow!!! I BELIEVE!!!

PStew198: Excited for the Chiefs tomorrow I feel two in a row for sure!

wayne_cobain: Headed to KC, folks! Hoping the Chiefs can actually put together a full game today!

MNH99: which leaves this question... Am I the only chiefs fan in Europe...?

jeffisgrassy: headed to KC with @valvahl and @pateshu for the Chiefs game