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Chiefs vs. Chargers: Game and score predictions I cannot wait for the Kansas City Chiefs game to start on Sunday. The excitement is killing me. As per usual Reggie Ragland Jersey , the Arrowhead Pride staff will provide picks each week leading up to the game — which is what you’ll see here.This year, we will track the picks and tally the correct predictions to see which contributor has the best foresight. For now, let’s get to the predictions:Shawn Barber, Chiefs 21-20After listening to Rumble Band play those drums for an hour this morning while selling Kingdom flags for donations for Ronald McDonald House I’m sure the Chiefs will win a tough matchup 21-20 over the Chargers.1. Chiefs win the turnover battle.2. Chargers offense stall in the red- zone.3. Chargers missing pro-bowl DE and CB.4. Chiefs dominate the kicking game.5. Pat Mahomes mobility will play a big factor.Aaron Borgman, Chiefs 28-248-0 speaks for itself. Andy > Phillip.John Dixon, Chiefs 38-35Most pundits think the Chargers will win the AFC West this season. But to do that, they’ll have to beat the Chiefs, which they haven’t done since 2013. It’s going to be a shootout, but the Chiefs win 38-35.Matt Lane, Chiefs 27-13The Chargers simply don’t play well against Kansas City, specifically since Andy Reid and Bob Sutton have arrived here. People can talk about the “new, more talented” Chargers team all they want, plenty of the staples are still there and simply have not played well vs the Chiefs. Phillip Rivers has struggled to figure out Bob Sutton’s defense, including last year with an even worse secondary, Melvin Gordon usually finds success early in games against KC but it stalls out around the halfway point, and while guys like Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa have always given the Chiefs fits, their secondary has never been able to hold up. Offensively we’ve barely scratched the surface of what they are going to offer this year and unfortunately for LA, they are the victim of the long prep time Reid thrives with.Gary McKenzie, Chiefs 19-13I’m not so sure this is going to be a shootout. In fact, I think this will be a low scoring game. I think this because Sutton has done well against Rivers and the Chargers in the past. Mahomes will also be facing a very sophisticated Chargers defense which is run by Gus Bradley.I think the Chiefs pound the ball on the ground, run the clock http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-spencer-ware-jersey , and the game will be lower scoring than we all think. Mahomes will drive the ball down the field late in the fourth quarter and score the game-winning touchdown.Matt Stagner, Chiefs 38-31(Andy Reid voice) Look, here’s the thing, we’re going to be ok here, it’s not our first time doing this. (end Andy Reid voice) All the hand-wringing about Bob Sutton and the secondary has distracted from the fact that this team is likely IMPROVED from the version that hasn’t lost to the bolts since 2013. The offense could be among the league elites, with Mahomes, Hill, Kelce, 4 stud RBs and Watkins running a playbook we haven’t even seen yet. The defense got younger, stronger against the run, and healthier overall. The pass rush should be improved with the new 4 man rotation at OLB. Kendall Fuller is a star at CB (in place of a Peters), and the rest of the secondary is no worse than last year’s version. I don’t expect a shutout, or a blowout, but I do expect a win. 38-31 ChiefsCraig Stout, Chiefs 27-14Everybody’s worried about the Chiefs defense coming into this game (potentially) without Eric Berry and with question marks in the Chiefs secondary. Does that sound familiar? Because it should. The Chiefs held the Chargers to 10 and 13 points in their two matchups in 2017, with healthy versions of Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, and Phillip Rivers. With the Chiefs better equipped to stop the run this season, and arguably better overall fits in the secondary, I predict a similar result.Kent Swanson Womens Carlos Hyde Jersey , Chiefs 31-27I’m fully expecting something wildly unique from the offense on Sunday. Andy Reid has had way too much time to not expect that he has found some creative ways to maximize the talents of his young quarterback. The same can be said about his skill player, including new toy Sammy Watkins. The Chiefs will get multiple touchdowns early, and Mahomes will make a play late to maintain possession and close the game out. The defense does just enough.Pete Sweeney, Chargers 31-20I like the idea of having a Week 1 AFC West matchup, as right out of the gate, it feels like this game matters more. The Los Angeles Chargers have been the Las Vegas favorite to win the division all offseason despite the Chiefs winning back-to-back titles. The Chargers haven’t beaten the Chiefs since Chase Daniel was the quarterback, but I don’t think that matters here. This is a new Chargers team that offers one of the best front sevens in the league. I look at this game and it’s simple.Chargers offense, good; Chargers, defense good. Chiefs offense, good; Chiefs defense, HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE at this juncture.Joel Thorman, Chiefs 30-28Things go as expected with Patrick Mahomes putting up big numbers and the Chiefs defense giving up big numbers. In the end, the Chiefs home crowd in LA helps swing a victory for the good guys.Aly Trost, Chargers 31-27The Chiefs may be unbeaten against the Chargers in their last 8 meetings, but I see that ending on Sunday as Los Angeles will continue to ride the successful end of their 2017 campaign into Sunday’s game. I predict a slow start for the Chiefs — offensively and defensively, which will result in an early lead for the home team. With a lack of consistency on the defensive end for the Chiefs, as well as the possibility of some regular season growing pains for Mahomes, the Chiefs will make a strong effort to comeback, but will fall short. Mahomes will throw another 60+ yard touchdown pass and Philip Rivers will reverse his 30 career interception curse against KC.Dane Van Why, Chiefs 30-21Definitely anticipating a slow start as Coach Reid and the offense add in newer concepts and plays that weren’t showcased in any of the preseason games. But, once they get rolling Demarcus Robinson Jersey , I expect Mahomes and the offense to take some shots, if they can avoid the pass rush of LA, that is. I expect the StubHub center to become Arrowhead West for a few hours, giving the Chiefs an odd “home field advantage”, 1,700 miles from home. I feel like the Chargers Duo of Williams at Wide Receiver have an opportunity for big showings matched up against the Chiefs cornerbacks. The ageless Antonio Gates will score a TD somehow.In total, 10 staff members picked the Chiefs and two staff members picked the Chargers.What’s your prediction? For the first time in a decade, the top seed in the AFC playoffs goes to a team not led by Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.The Kansas City Chiefs earned the No. 1 seed for the first time since 1997 after switching from Alex Smith to Patrick Mahomes , the sensational second-year star who reminds so many of Brett Favre.The New England Patriots lost five times on the road but still managed to win their customary first-round bye, slipping past the Houston Texans to earn a week off to rest for the 10th consecutive year.They’re the only teams back in the AFC playoffs following a year of comebacks.The Texans return from a year’s absence thanks to the remarkable rebounds of J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson . The Chargers rode a refined Philip Rivers to their first playoff berth in five years, and the Colts crashed the playoff party for the first time since 2014 behind Andrew Luck’s rousing return .The Colts visit the Texans on Saturday in the wild-card round, and on Sunday the Chargers play at Baltimore, where the Ravens ended a four-year drought by rallying behind Lamar Jackson , the last of the “Big Five” rookie QBs drafted in the first round, but the first to make it to the playoffs.Strength and weakness of each of the six AFC playoff teams:1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 4. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 4, 23-7 over Minnesota on Jan. 11, 1970.SHOOTOUT: The Chiefs haven’t had a true franchise QB since Len Dawson led them to their only Super Bowl title. But after letting him learn the ropes under Alex Smith, Mahomes broke out with one of the best seasons in NFL history for a first-year starter (5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns ). K.C. scored at least 26 points in every game, the only team ever to do so.STRIKEOUT: The defense is a dud. Their four losses this season came when they put forth as much resistance as tissue paper: shootout losses to the Rams, Patriots and Seahawks and a fourth-quarter meltdown against the Chargers. Of course http://www.chiefslockerroom.com/authentic-mitch-morse-jersey , those are all playoff-bound teams. Don’t forget on offense the ouster of RB Kareem Hunt , who had 14 TDs. The Chiefs have gone 3-2 since cutting last year’s rushing champ.SHOUTOUT: “I always feel like there is a bull’s-eye every week, and that’s OK. That’s the way you want it. We’ve earned the right to be in this position.” — Coach Andy Reid.2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 5 (tie). Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 51, 34-28, OT, over Atlanta on Feb. 5, 2017.FAR OUT: At 41, he finally showed signs of age this season. But having Tom Brady on their roster makes the Patriots a title contender. Coming off an MVP season, Brady fell off — by his lofty standards — with 4,355 yards, 29 TDs and 11 interceptions. Getting a week off to rest is important because the Patriots have not been a wild-card team since 2009, when they were blown out by Baltimore.FLAME OUT: Every time Brady has won a Super Bowl ring, he had a star-studded defense helping him. The Patriots have given up 30 or more points five times this season, going 2-3. They haven’t been able to get to the quarterback like last year, when they were tied for seventh in the league with 42 sacks. This season, they tied for 30th with just 30 sacks.SHOUTOUT: “11-5 is nothing to be sad about. I mean, we fought pretty hard and put ourselves in a decent position here, and now we’ve got to go try to take advantage of it.” — Brady.3. HOUSTON TEXANS (11-5). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 7. No Lombardis.ROUT: QB Deshaun Watson is healthy again as evidenced by his eight TD throws and no interceptions in the last six games while running for 276 yards and four TDs. DeAndre Hopkins was second in the NFL with a career-high 1,572 yards receiving. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney combined for 25 sacks and 34 tackles for loss. Watt also forced seven fumbles after playing just eight games over two injury-shortened seasons.POUT: The Texans enter the playoffs thin at receiver behind Hopkins after losing Will Fuller (knee) midseason and Demaryius Thomas , a trade deadline pickup from Denver, to a torn Achilles tendon last month. There is also concern about the porous O-line after Watson was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times this season. That kind of duress can negate any franchise QB. Adding to the pressure is a less-than-impressive ground game.SHOUTOUT: “This team is one of the few teams to come back from 0-3 and to qualify for the playoffs and win the division. We have a tough football team.” — Coach Bill O’Brien.4. BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-6). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 9. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 47 Womens Xavier Williams Jersey , 34-31 over San Francisco on Feb. 1, 2013.BREAKOUT: The Ravens are dangerous if rookie QB Lamar Jackson shows the same poise he displayed in leading Baltimore on a 6-1 streak after taking over from an injured Joe Flacco. With Jackson efficiently operating the run-pass option , Baltimore controlled the clock and the rested defense manhandled opponents. John Harbaugh’s Ravens boast the NFL’s second-ranked rushing attack and No. 1 defense.DROPOUT: Baltimore beat the Chargers in L.A. on Dec. 22, but QB Philip Rivers should be ready for the rematch against a defense that last week was burned by Baker Mayfield for 376 yards and three TDs. Jackson ran for nearly 700 yards, but with only one career game of 200 yards passing, there’s still some question whether he can bring Baltimore back from a deficit with his arm.SHOUTOUT: “This is what a real team looks like. They block out all the outside, turn to each other for strength and are there for one another. … This is the best team I’ve been around.” — Harbaugh.5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (12-4). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 5 (tie). No Lombardis. Lost Super Bowl 28 to San Francisco 49-26 in 1995.CLOUT: Philip Rivers had a 105.5 passer rating in 2018, equaling his career best. Melvin Gordon had 1,309 yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs and Austin Ekeler emerged as a change-of-pace back. Keenan Allen led the team in catches again but Mike Williams developed into another big-play receiver. The Chargers also aren’t fazed by hitting the road , where they were 7-1 with wins at Seattle, Pittsburgh and Kansas City.DOUBT: The Chargers head into the playoffs with only one healthy starter at linebacker. Denzel Perryman and Jatavis Brown are out with season-ending injuries and their replacements are undersized, something opponents will certainly scheme to exploit. They’ve been outscored 43-14 in the first quarter of the past six games as Rivers has thrown an interception on the first drive in each of the last three games.SHOUTOUT: “We just had to be in the playoffs. Our goal is to try to make a run and try to get to the Super Bowl.” — CB Casey Hayward Jr.6. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (10-6). AP Pro32 Ranking: No. 8. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 41, 29-17 over Chicago on Feb. 4, 2007.BLOWOUT: The Comeback Colts got into the playoffs with a three-pronged combo they’ve rarely had: balanced offense, stout defense and championship-caliber QB. Andrew Luck came back from a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder with the best overall season of his career. The revamped O-line allowed a league-low 18 sacks and the Colts have allowed 16.4 points over last eight games.BURNOUT: The Colts will spend the playoffs on the road with a roster that lacks much postseason experience. Only four players from Indy’s last playoff team in 2014 will be active Sunday: Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Anthony Castonzo and Adam Vinatieri. Take out three players who own Super Bowl rings — Vinatieri, Jabaal Sheard and Najee Goode — and the other 46 players on the roster have a total of six playoff wins.SHOUTOUT: “That’s every team’s goal at the beginning of the season, to get into the dance, and we have climbed the mountain far enough to get into the playoffs. But our ultimate goals are still out there.” — Vinatieri.