EL SEGUNDO — Jesse Minter isn’t buying the narrative. The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t history, as far as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator is concerned. They are still playing at a high level offensively despite a 6-7 record that would indicate otherwise. They’re still a challenge for any team.
“I don’t believe any of that,” Minter said Thursday of the conventional wisdom that suggests the Chiefs’ dynasty has come to an end. “They still have all the speed. They still have (tight end) Travis Kelce. They still have (quarterback) Patrick Mahomes, the most valuable player almost year in and year out.
“(Chiefs coach) Andy Reid is one of the top play-callers in the history of the game. So, I see a team that last year won a lot of one-score games and this year that’s flipped, but I don’t think this year they’re all of a sudden playing at a lower level, so to speak. They’re capable of winning out.
“We know it’s a great, great challenge, going there (to Arrowhead Stadium) and playing against them. It’s a division game. It’s the next game. It’s the most important game of the season. We’ve kind of been on a one-game season mindset since the bye week. It’s no different this week.”
As an added bonus, the Chargers expect the Chiefs to play a desperate game, knowing full well that Kansas City’s season could be on the line Sunday. A victory for the Chargers would bolster their playoff hopes and drive a stake through the Chiefs’ slim chances for the postseason.
Kansas City’s run of nine consecutive AFC West titles has ended, with only the second-place Chargers (9-4) still mathematically alive to catch and pass the division-leading Denver Broncos (11-2) with four games left. The Chiefs’ run of three straight Super Bowl appearances could be done, too.
“I expect, every time, everybody is desperate to win just because they want to win, no matter the team, no matter the record,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “I feel like if you’re 9-4 and you’re not playing desperate, too, you’re in trouble. We’re desperate, they’re desperate. Let’s go out there and play.”
The Chargers should know all about playing with desperation. They certainly displayed that sort of mentality on Monday night during their come-from-behind overtime victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that defeated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in February in New Orleans.
No doubt they’ll expect the same sort of play from the Chiefs, losers of two in a row and four their past five. It would likely take wins over the Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders for the Chiefs to rally for a playoff berth, a not unthinkable scenario.
“I think that’s one of those unspoken things,” Minter said of sensing the desperation the Chargers will likely face from the Chiefs. “Everybody kind of knows where they’re at, and it’s sort of like, whatever it takes to win the game. You kind of feel like it’s like that every week.
“For us, it’s more about how we play. You know, knowing that they may try some things to spark it. Maybe they try to hit some big plays early. All this type of stuff that we know they’re capable of, and then we haven’t played since early in the season, there’s been so many nuances and changes.”
The Chiefs, like the Chargers, have had numerous injuries, especially to their offensive line. Left tackle Josh Simmons is on injured reserve because of a broken and dislocated left wrist and tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps and knee) and guard Trey Smith (ankle) are on this week’s injury report.
The Chargers’ offensive line has been decimated by injuries, including season-ending injuries to standout tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Right tackle Trey Pipkins III sat out of practice for the second consecutive day Thursday after injuring his ankle against the Eagles.
“Now, it’s just another opportunity to go play,” Minter said.
EXTRA POINTS
In addition to Pipkins, wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle) and safety Elijah Molden (hamstring) also were absent from practice. …
The Chargers-Eagles game drew 20.4 million viewers, ESPN’s highest audience for a Week 14 game on “Monday Night Football,” the network said.
