By Jeremy
The Chiefs return from their bye at 4-0, and their next opponent arrives with a record that invites a dangerous assumption. Los Angeles fell to 0-5 on October 11 after losing a fourth-quarter lead to Denver. Kansas City should see an opportunity when the Chargers visit Arrowhead on October 18—but not a free win. The question is whether the Chiefs can make Justin Herbert play under the kind of pressure that turned Sunday’s game.
What Denver’s comeback revealed
According to the Chargers’ game recap, Los Angeles led 17-10 entering the fourth quarter before a failed fourth-down attempt gave Denver a short field for the tying touchdown. With the game even, Herbert fumbled under pressure. He threw an interception on the next Chargers possession, and Denver turned both takeaways into field goals in a 23-17 win.
That sequence gives Kansas City a useful plan, not a guarantee of turnovers. The Chargers’ follow-up account says Herbert has accounted for nine turnovers through five games, including seven interceptions. But it also describes the pressure on his fumble, when he lost control while trying to get rid of the ball. The Chiefs should aim to make his decisions difficult rather than simply wait for another mistake.
Pressure starts before the rush gets home
For Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, the tempting answer is to blitz Herbert relentlessly. A better approach is to vary the picture: threaten pressure, sometimes bring it, and sometimes drop into coverage while the front tries to compress the pocket. Chris Jones creating disruption inside could matter more than an extra rusher arriving from deep, because Herbert is most dangerous when he has room to extend a play and find an answer.
Coverage has to hold up long enough for that plan to work. Kansas City cannot give Herbert easy throws whenever a blitz is shown, nor can it lose contain while chasing a sack. Force him to move, change the timing of his reads and tackle after the catch. Even an incompletion or a modest gain can be a defensive win if it leaves Los Angeles facing another difficult down.
Don’t mistake frustration for surrender
The same Chargers recap shows why the record needs context. Herbert helped lead a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive against Denver, and Kimani Vidal later scored on a 42-yard run. Los Angeles found enough offense to take a fourth-quarter lead before it came apart. That is a warning to a Chiefs team that has little reason to offer Herbert extra possessions through careless play of its own.
The Chiefs’ schedule confirms they had Week 5 off; rest should help them prepare, but it will not make the tackles or win the passing downs. If Kansas City stays disciplined while steadily closing Herbert’s space, it can put a struggling rival back in the situations that have hurt it. At 0-5, the Chargers are vulnerable. They are not harmless.
I’m really worried about our offensive line handling a solid pass rush, especially if they struggle against blitzes. If Herbert gets time, he’s dangerous, so we need the D-backs to step up too. Do you think they can hold it together?
I agree, the O-line needs to step up big. If they can give Mahomes solid protection while mixing in short, quick passes, it keeps Herbert off the field and puts pressure back on him. Consistency is key.
The defense needs to keep Herbert uncomfortable and make him second-guess himself. We can’t let him find his rhythm because if he does, we might regret it. It’s time to turn up the heat.