CARSON, Calif. (AP) Division games always take on an added importance.
But when division favorites match up during the opening week of the season, the game becomes even more significant.
Such is the case on Sunday when Kansas City travels to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.
The Chiefs have won the AFC West the past two seasons, but come into 2018 with Patrick Mahomes taking over at quarterback. The Chargers closed last season by winning nine of their final 12 games, but are well aware that a 0-4 start is what kept them out of the postseason.
I love the challenge. I know our players love the challenge, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. They are a good football team, so why not, right? Lets go play and who knows what happens down the road. Its a neat thing to start off that way.
Kansas City has dominated the series recently, winning eight straight by an average margin of 12.4 points.
Most of the focus going into the opener has been on Mahomes, who moves into the starting job after Alex Smith was traded to Washington in the offseason. Mahomes, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 draft, showed off his athleticism and lively arm in last years regular-season finale against Denver, throwing for 284 yards in a 27-24 victory.
Mahomes second start will also be on the road against a division opponent, which he said is a benefit after experiencing that last season.
We want to attack every aspect of the field. I feel like we have the weapons that we can attack short, run the ball, stretch the defense deep, we can attack the middle with the guys that we have, Mahomes said. We just have to make sure we keep the defense honest on every single play.
You look at his decision-making and how he operates and is he a guy that takes off on a run, can he extend plays? How does he handle different looks? defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. So you go back to college. You look at his preseason games, that Denver game, any film you can get your hands on.
While the Chiefs have had to answer questions about Ma-homes, the Chargers have been reminded plenty about last years 0-4 start. Coach Anthony Lynn is hoping that he wont have to do the same thing this season.
Well, at this point Im tired of talking about it. Hopefully I can show you on Sunday and were going to find out one way or the other, Lynn said. Thats what makes this week so great. We get to open up with the division champs and we get to see exactly where we are as a football team culture and everything.
Here are other things to know as the Chargers host the Chiefs in an opener for the first time since 1992:
HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS: Kansas Citys Kareem Hunt ran wild against the Chargers last season, averaging 163.5 rushing yards in the two games and scoring two touchdowns. Los Angeles run defense last season was the second-worst in the league (131.5 yards per game).
RIVERS REDUX? Chargers QB Philip Rivers threw only 10 interceptions last season, but six came against the Chiefs.
