The Chargers are the defending AFC West champs and over the last five years have established themselves as the class of the division. The Chargers will come to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday Night Football to kick off the NFL season giving the Chiefs the ideal test to see where they stand.
During last night's telecast of the Royals and Twins game, Chiefs GM Scott Pioli mentioned that the Chargers will be a good test for them early on to see where they stand.
Likewise, safety Jon McGraw told 810 WHB's Soren Petro this morning that becoming a team competing for a division title year in and year out is where the Chiefs want to be.
"[The Chargers] are where we want to be," McGraw said. "They're setting the standard in this division. We know we have to beat the Chargers if we want to get to the playoffs. It's going to be a great test for us and we're excited for it."
Part of that process, McGraw says, is working with the Chiefs rookie safeties.
"I was talking earlier with someone about whether you want to spend too much time teaching them since they're trying to take your snaps but the best way to test if you know something is if you can teach it. For me it's an opportunity to get better. The more time I get to spend with them is more opportunities for me to get better."
I wonder who he was talking to about that....
Meanwhile, Chiefs COO Mark Donovan was also on the The Program with Petro this morning and said, on the business side, they're also preparing for the Chargers.
"We are very much looking forward to Monday Night being back in Kansas City," he said. "The tradition of that game and that event is perfect to officially open Arrowhead. When the fans get out there, they're going to see the spectacle. The things we have around that game is going to make it a can't-miss event."
By the way, McGraw also said one of the toughest players to play against is Chargers RB Darren Sproles because he's so hard to catch. No wonder the Chiefs were eyeing him in free agency only to later sign a Sproles-esque player in Dexter McCluster.