Patrick Mahomes and the first-place Kansas City Chiefs visit Justin Herbert and the second-place Los Angeles Chargers in a massive AFC West battle with playoff seeding implications tonight under the lights in SoCal.
What a way to start Week 15, right?
Mahomes and Herbert are fourth and fifth, respectively, in passing yardage in the NFL and have thrown for a combined 7,464 yards and 57 touchdowns this season. This one has all the makings of a heck of a lid-lifter for Week 15 of the NFL season, a primetime battle of two incredible quarterbacks battling for an AFC West title and playoff seeding on Thursday Night Football. I’m ready for this to start now.
Two of the most talented QBs face off on TNF. Which one has the stronger arm: @PatrickMahomes or Justin Herbert? 🎯@Chiefs | @Chargers
📺: #KCvsLAC — Tonight 8:20pm ET on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/tRunO6Lanf— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2021
Game Info
Kansas City Chiefs (9-4, 1st AFC West) at Los Angeles Chargers (8-5, 2nd AFC West) – FOX, NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink), Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Tony Boselli)
Kickoff Time: 7:20 p.m. CT
Site: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Ca.
Referee: Shawn Smith
Odds: KC -3.5, O/U 53 (via DraftKings Sports Book)
Game Thread
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun!
Coaches
Chiefs: Andy Reid (230-134-1; 100-41 w/ KC, 130-93-1 w PHI) vs. Chargers: Brandon Staley (8-5)
Starting QBs and Projected Game Stats
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes: 27/41, 296 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 23 rushing yards
versus
Chargers: Justin Herbert: 26/39, 290 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 20 rushing yards
Week 15 projected stats via ESPN projections
Chiefs Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Patrick Mahomes
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• WRs Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman
• TE Travis Kelce
• LT Orlando Brown, LG Joe Thuney, C Creed Humphrey, RG Trey Smith, RT Lucas Niang
Defense
• LDE Chris Jones, LDT Jarran Reed, RDT Derrick Nnadi, RDE Frank Clark
• LB Ben Niemann, Anthony Hitchens
• LCB Charvarius Ward, RCB L’Jarius Sneed
• FS Juan Thornhill, SS Tyrann Mathieu
Specialists
• Harrison Butker (kicker), Tommy Townsend (punter, holder), James Winchester (long snapper), Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman (kick and punt returns)
Chargers Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Justin Herbert
• RB Austin Ekeler
• WRs Mike Williams, Keenan Allen
• TE Jared Cook
• LT Rashawn Slater, LG Matt Feiler, C Corey Linsley, RG Michael Schofield III, RT Storm Norton
Defense
• EDGEs Joey Bosa, Uchenna Nwosu DLs Jerry Tillery, Linval Joseph, Justin Jones
• LBs Kyzir White, Drue Tranquill
• CBs Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr.
• S Nasir Adderley, Derwin James Jr.
Specialists
• Dustin Hopkins (kicker), Ty Long (punter, holder), Matt Overton (long snapper), Andre Roberts (kick and punt returns)
Inactives
Here are the Chiefs’ inactives for tonight’s game against LA. This doesn’t include players on the COVID list, just FYI.
QB Shane Buechele
CB L’Jarius Sneed
OL Kyle Long
OT Prince Tega Wanogho
DB Zayne Anderson— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) December 16, 2021
#KCvsLAC inactives
Easton Stick
Asante Samuel Jr.
Alohi Gilman
Larry Rountree III
Breiden Fehoko— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 16, 2021