The Chargers have a chance to stay undefeated in the AFC West and essentially knock Kansas City out of the AFC playoff picture while doing it.
Here’s what Los Angeles has to do on offense to come away with a win.
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More Trevor Penning snaps
Penning, who arrived with the Chargers at the trade deadline as a potential option at left tackle, played only eight snaps against the Eagles now that Jamaree Salyer has a firm grasp of the left tackle job for the rest of the season. But those eight snaps all came as a sixth offensive lineman in the Chargers’ heavy packages instead of tight end Tucker Fisk, who is on injured reserve with an ankle injury. That resulted in some of the best run looks of the year from coordinator Greg Roman and sprung several nice runs from both Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal. With the weather expected to be chilly on Sunday, the Chargers would do well to lean into that identity.
Continue spreading the ball
No Chargers receiver has been dominant at any point this season, which has been a frustrating experience for fantasy football managers and Chargers fans that saw Ladd McConkey look like a star last season or Quentin Johnson explode for his early run of production this year. But Los Angeles has largely done a good job of taking the read that’s open when they drop back to pass, which has resulted in a much more even distribution of targets that has kept LA in games. With cornerback Trent McDuffie on the other side but question marks at the other cornerback spot, continuing to play matchups rather than try to force the ball to a top target seems like a good gameplan once again.
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Let Justin Herbert get rid of it
The lack of quick game over the last few weeks for the Chargers has been baffling, especially after Herbert broke his left hand against the Raiders two games ago. That’s led to some of the lesser production from the receivers, too, as coordinator Greg Roman has employed a ton of vertical routes despite LA’s problems protecting Herbert. Getting those receivers, who – outside of maybe Keenan Allen – can create space after the catch, some designed and easy touches early on would help both keep the chains moving and ensure Herbert’s health.
Dictate their terms
As an offense, the biggest question to answer every week is whether you’re going to be reactionary to what a defense shows you or if you’re going to make the defense adjust to the wrinkles you show up with. The Chargers have too often been the former under Roman, who has shown to be a poor improvisational coordinator multiple times this season. But LA has a few avenues to become the latter kind of offense: more Penning, hammer the ground game due to the cold weather, more play action, more screens and quick game. Kansas City is going to send plenty of pressure and Los Angeles has to have a plan to combat that already in place coming into Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers’ offensive keys to victory against the Chiefs