Chiefs chasing sixth straight win over Chargers as Jim Harbaugh enters picture

Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are nemeses to many in the NFL based on the Chiefs’ track record of success approaching historic levels. Count the Chargers among the division rivals failing to live up to their end of the rivalry in recent years.

When they meet Sunday at Los Angeles, Kansas City (3-0) seeks a sixth consecutive win over the Chargers (2-1) as the home team introduces first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh to what has become a one-sided AFC West fight with Reid and Mahomes. Turning the tables won’t be easy.

“Multiple challenges,” Harbaugh said of facing the Chiefs before Los Angeles enters its bye week. “Really good run game, really good throwing game, explosive offense. I think everybody understands the challenge of playing a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes in every way. His ability to move the ball with his legs, with his arm, within the offense is elite.”

Modest statistical production to date is becoming a hot topic outside of the Chiefs’ locker room. Kansas City is 14th in the NFL in total offense (328 yards per game) and the usual lead receiver, perennial Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce, is off to an admittedly slow start with eight receptions for 69 yards and no touchdowns in three games.

He’s one reception from tying Tony Gonzalez for the franchise record with 916 catches, and Kelce’s next TD catch from Mahomes would break a tie on the NFL’s all-time list with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham of the Saints for third-most QB-TE touchdown connections. But Reid said the narrative of Kelce being “old” or “distracted” is false.

“Defenses don’t think that,” Reid said. “We have another receiver who plays opposite him that has a lot of yards and catches. That’s how this thing goes. Travis is fine. He’s being Trav. He works his tail off. He hasn’t lost a step and all those things. He’s not distracted. People are making sure they have him taking care of these defenses.”

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is working through an ankle injury while starring as Mahomes’ featured target in September with an NFL-high 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Mahomes has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 659 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions through three games.

The Chargers present a hefty challenge with a defense ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense (11 points per game, third), yards per game (267, sixth), run defense (91.7 per game, sixth) and pass defense (175.3 per game, 10th).

“It’s a physical football team, both sides of the ball,” said Reid, who has a record of 17-5 against the Chargers since taking over the Chiefs in 2013. “You’ve got to be ready for a complete game. Their defenses are going to give you a variety of looks. One of the top defenses in the NFL right now.”

Mahomes will look across the line at a defense with a few missing pieces. Pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip) and linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) are both out, and safety Derwin James Jr. was suspended for Week 4 after being penalized for unnecessary roughness at Pittsburgh.

“He genuinely cares and does not want to hurt anybody,” Harbaugh said of James’ one-game ban from the NFL. “He wants to do it the way the league wants it done and the evidence is there.”

Elijah Molden, A.J. Finley or Tony Jefferson will get the start — along with Alohi Gilman — at safety against the Chiefs. Jefferson, a 10-year veteran, was signed off the practice squad on Thursday.

“It will be next-man-up mentality,” Harbaugh said.

Los Angeles has even more injury concerns on offense.

Quarterback Justin Herbert is questionable as he continues to battle a high ankle sprain he aggravated during the Chargers’ 20-10 loss vs. the Steelers last Sunday. Herbert was a limited participant in practice Friday for the third consecutive day.

“(Herbert) said he felt better today than he did last Friday,” Harbaugh told The Athletic after Friday’s practice.

Harbaugh added that Herbert did “more” during practice this week than he did last week.

Taylor Heinicke (29 career starts) went 2-for-2 for 24 yards passing in relief of Herbert last Sunday. Easton Stick (four starts) is also an option if Herbert can’t go.

Whoever takes the snaps for Los Angeles on Sunday will direct the offense without starting left tackle Rashawn Slater, who is out with a pectoral injury. Rookie right tackle Joe Alt is questionable with a sprained MCL.

Wide receiver Derius Davis and defensive back Deane Leonard are questionable with hamstring issues, while cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee) and defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) are also questionable.

Harbaugh knows the Chiefs have owned the recent series with the Chargers, building a stockpile of AFC West division titles that stands at eight in a row. With Sunday’s game on their home turf, the Chargers are hearing a lot about the importance of meeting the challenge the conference bully and two-time defending Super Bowl champion presents.

“In terms of opportunity, it’s how it feels,” Harbaugh said. “And we’re attacking it as such.”

The Chargers outscored the Raiders and host Panthers 48-13 before dropping their first game this season in Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs return to Kansas City for their third primetime game of the season to face the Saints (2-1) on “Monday Night Football” in Week 5 before a bye week.

Kansas City will be without Michael Danna on Sunday after the defensive end appeared on Thursday’s injury report with a calf injury. Danna was limited in practice Friday.

–Field Level Media

Caleb Williams, Bears aim to level record with win over Rams

The Chicago Bears unabashedly went all-in on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in the offseason.

While the top overall draft pick has produced mixed results through three games, the Bears (1-2) hope to stabilize their attack as other members of the offense return to health for a Sunday home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Chicago received positive news this week with wide receiver Keenan Allen. Allen (heel), acquired from the Chargers in the offseason, is listed as questionable but is expected to be back after missing the past two games — road losses at Houston and Indianapolis.

“His special talent of getting open in a phone booth is gonna be great for us,” Williams said.

A known commodity in the middle of the field, Allen figures to provide security for Williams, who has remained under duress behind a transitioning offensive line.

Chicago yielded four sacks in a 21-16 loss at Indianapolis last week. Williams was sacked seven times the week before in Houston.

Right tackle Darnell Wright began the week as an injury concern. He is day-to-day with a back injury, but head coach Matt Eberflus said he’ll be ready to go Sunday based on Friday’s practice.

“We’re looking at the best five (offensive linemen),” Eberflus said. “We don’t want musical chairs in there. It’s early in the season. We’re looking for that.”

The Bears struggled to run on a porous Indianapolis rush defense. Williams passed for 363 yards and the first two touchdowns of his career but also was responsible for three turnovers — two interceptions and a strip sack.

Los Angeles avoided an 0-3 start by rallying from a 14-point, second-half deficit to edge the visiting San Francisco 49ers 27-24. Joshua Karty kicked the winning 37-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.

While the Rams (1-2) aspire to play from ahead on Sunday and throughout the season, they also find that reeling in opponents is made easier with quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.

Los Angeles defensive tackle Kobie Turner described Stafford’s calmness after the Rams forced a punt, giving the offense the ball back with 42 seconds to play in a tie game.

“Everybody’s hurrahing and everybody’s super excited and Matt is just still,” Turner said. “He’s just calm and he’s going on the field, it looks like it’s a normal day.

“And so when you kind of see that presence — never being too high, never being too low — and you see the fire that he plays with, you know and you have complete confidence in the fact that he’s going to put us in the best situations.”

Rams running back Kyren Williams rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns to go with a receiving score against San Francisco. But he’s averaging just 3.0 yards per carry after gaining five yards per attempt last season.

Stafford passed for 221 yards and a touchdown even though top targets Cooper Kupp (ankle), Puka Nacua (knee) and Tyler Higbee (knee) were sidelined due to injury. All three are still sidelined this week.

Rams coach Sean McVay said this week that while Kupp is “attacking every single day,” the former Super Bowl MVP won’t be able to play against Chicago.

Los Angeles tight end Davis Allen (back) was limited in practice on Wednesday.

Four Chicago players sat out the team’s Wednesday practice with mixed results since. Wright and Darrell Taylor (illness) returned to full practice Friday, while defensive back Terell Smith (hip) and defensive linemen Zacch Pickens (groin) were ruled out for Sunday.

The Bears lead the all-time series with the Rams 54-39-3 and boast a three-game home winning streak in the series.

–Field Level Media

Saints, Falcons hunting early statement win in division showdown

Over the last two seasons, the NFC South has been less than impressive.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took the division in 2022 despite going 8-9, then reclaimed their title with a 9-8 finish last season.

But the South has looked stronger so far this year, and the New Orleans Saints and host Atlanta Falcons will both aim to prove they’re a contender when they continue their longtime rivalry on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday’s matchup begins crucial three-game stretches for both the Saints (2-1) and the Falcons (1-2).

After playing Atlanta, New Orleans faces the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs before hosting Tampa Bay. The Falcons, meanwhile, gear up for three straight weeks of divisional opponents beginning Sunday.

But for now, all attention is fixed on the 111th meeting between the longtime rivals. Each team has 55 wins in the all-time series.

“The division is coming to town, and we better be ready to deal,” Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris said. “This will determine a lot about us at the end of it all, but right now we better focus on the New Orleans Saints.

“It is always a tough battle with those guys. They’ve got a lot of familiar faces that have been there over the years. It’s a built up rivalry when you get to play against these guys. It’s been special for a long time and hopefully it continues to be special.”

First-year Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will make his debut in the rivalry. Cousins has completed 66.7 percent of his passes and thrown for 626 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions so far this season.

An area of concern for Cousins and the Atlanta offense has been converting on third down. The Falcons have been successful on just 22.2 percent (6-for-27) of third downs faced this year, the league’s third-lowest rate.

Atlanta went 2-for-9 in Sunday night’s 22-17 home loss to the Chiefs.

“Our offense on third down has not been very good,” Morris said. “That has been an emphasis for us, to keep drives going so we can maintain and get through possessions. We need to have more time of possession, so we can have more plays and keep our defense off the grass more.”

The Falcons’ 16.3 points per game are tied for 26th in the league.

The Saints’ offense, meanwhile, was historically potent to open the season. New Orleans became just the fifth team all-time to score at least 44 points each in their first two games.

The Saints steamrolled the Carolina Panthers 47-10 in Week 1 before routing the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 in Week 2. New Orleans fell back to Earth last time out, dropping a 15-12 slugfest against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

As he prepares for Sunday, Saints head coach Dennis Allen may know the rivalry better than anyone.

The son of former Falcons player Grady Allen, Dennis was a defensive assistant in Atlanta from 2002 to 2005 before two stints as a coach in New Orleans.

“It’s a fun game to be a part of,” Allen said. “Whether we play them in the Superdome or their stadium, it’s always been a great environment and it’s always been a lot of fun to compete against those guys.”

New Orleans, which pummeled Atlanta 48-17 in last year’s regular season finale, has seen its offensive success carry into 2024.

Much of that can be attributed to the play of running back Alvin Kamara. His 285 rushing yards rank fourth in the league, while his four rushing touchdowns are tied for the most.

However, Kamara is questionable after missing practice Wednesday and being listed as limited on Thursday and Friday due to hip and rib injuries. Top receiver Chris Olave popped up on the injury report Friday for the first time all week with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday.

Saints offensive guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) and linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring) are out.

Atlanta center Drew Dalman was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, while tackle Kaleb McGary was ruled out with a sprained MCL. Ryan Neuzil is expected to make his fifth career start in Dalman’s absence on Sunday.

–Field Level Media