The Kansas City Chiefs return from the bye on Sunday for a divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here are five things to keep in mind heading into game day.
1. Here's a look at the final injury report for both teams.
The Chiefs will be without tackle Josh Simmons (back) and wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) on Sunday, but it's worth noting that Simmons returned to practice this past week.
As for the Chargers, they'll be without starting right tackle Joe Alt (neck), starting left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), leading wide receiver (in catches and receiving yards) Tre' Harris (hamstring), starting cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and star safety Derwin James (hamstring).
Los Angeles also listed a handful of notable players as "Questionable" for Sunday, including defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell (knee), linebacker Bud Dupree (neck), linebacker Daiyan Henley (knee) and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring).
That group doesn't include the guys already on Injured Reserve for Los Angeles, notably left tackle Rashawn Slater, center Tyler Biadasz, tight end David Njoku, offensive lineman Trey Pipkins and linebacker Denzel Perryman.
2. Kansas City's pass-rush will need to generate pressure on Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert.
The Chiefs turned in a strong pressure rate on Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins back in Week 4, generating pressure on 40.4% of his dropbacks behind strong performances by edge-rushers George Karlaftis (11 pressures) and R Mason Thomas (5 pressures).
It didn't lead to a sack against Las Vegas, but the pressure rate was encouraging, and heading into Sunday – for what it's worth – Justin Herbert has been sacked the second-most of any player in the league (with 17). Herbert has also been under pressure the third-most of any quarterback (82 dropbacks), which is a primary reason behind the veteran passer's overall struggles this year, which include the lowest yards-per-attempt figure (6.6), completion percentage (59.4%) and passer rating (70.2) of his career.
Herbert remains one of the league's most-talented quarterbacks though, and when given time to throw – as the Chiefs have experienced firsthand over the years – he's more than capable of making plays. It'll be on Kansas City's pass-rush to prevent that from taking place throughout Sunday's game.
3. Tailback Ken Walker wrapped up Week 4 with the most rushing yards by any player since 2010.
Walker earned a much-deserved week off during the Chiefs' bye after rushing for a ridiculous 537 yards through Kansas City's first four games, marking the most rushing yards by any player through Week 4 since 2010.
For context, the Chiefs rushed for 266 yards from the running back position through four weeks last year. Walker, meanwhile, has racked up 367 yards just after contact so far this season.
Walker, despite playing one fewer game than the 10 players behind him, still leads the NFL in forced missed tackles through Week 5 with 39, and his overall efforts have led to the Chiefs' ownership of the second-best yards-per-play mark (6.54) in the NFL.
The Chiefs will look to establish Walker early and often once again on Sunday, and when looking at the Chargers' strengths as a defense, his success could very well dictate the flow of the game. That's because Los Angeles, while in the bottom half of the league in scoring defense, can get after the passer behind the trio of edge-rushers Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack and Akheem Mesidor.
A version of Sunday's game that doesn't go well for the Chiefs would likely include an overly pass-heavy offensive attack that allows the Chargers to pin their ears back as a pass-rush. A balanced plan, rather, that mixes the run, pass and the play-action passing game could ideally mitigate the best aspects of Los Angeles' defense.
4. The turnover battle, as always, will be in full focus.
Winning the turnover battle is always important, and it's a big reason behind the current trajectory of both Kansas City and Los Angeles this year.
The Chargers lead the NFL in giveaways this season with 13, pacing the league in both interceptions (7) and lost fumbles (6). Unsurprisingly, those giveaways have led to tremendous field position for the opponent (the 39.8 yard-line, which leads the league) and a bunch of points (44, most in the league).
Kansas City, meanwhile, has turned the ball over just twice all season and owns a +5 mark in terms of turnover margin, which ranks second in the NFL.
Keep in mind, divisional matchups, and especially meetings between the Chiefs and Chargers, always tend to be close no matter the records of the teams involved. Since 2018, for example, 12 of the 16 matchups between these two were decided by a single score.
So, in a game that has historically come down to the wire, winning the turnover margin – especially considering how things have gone for each team in that category so far – seems particularly critical.
5. The Chiefs have demonstrated an ability to close out games this year.
A trend that plagued the Chiefs in 2025 was their inability to close out games, as evidenced by Kansas City's 1-9 mark in one-possessions contests. Well, at least so far this year, that tendency appears to have turned around.
Kansas City is already 2-0 in one-possession games this season, and at the core of the Chiefs' 4-0 start overall has been its collective performance in the fourth quarter, where Kansas City owns the third-best scoring margin (+19) in the NFL. Specifically, the Chiefs have yet to commit a fourth-quarter turnover while yielding just one sack.
Los Angeles, on the other hand, has been outscored by 33 points in the fourth quarter this year, which marks the worst total in the league. The Chargers have also scored the fewest points (13), committed the most turnovers (7) and allowed the most sacks (11) in the fourth quarter, which explains much of their 0-5 start to the year.
The Chiefs' ability to win on Sunday may very well come down to their execution in the final 15 minutes, and at least so far, that's when Kansas City has played much of its best football this year.
