As it’s clear there is a changing of the guard in the AFC West, with the Denver Broncos taking a stranglehold on the division, the fading Kansas City Chiefs are clinging to playoff hopes, but need a lot of help and to win out.

It starts with today’s home game against the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Chargers, who won the first meeting and can take a step closer to the playoffs with a win, while ushering the Chiefs closer to vacation.

Here’s a quick glance at Sunday’s game:

LAST TIME OUT: Chargers defeated Philadelphia 22-19 in OT; Chiefs lost to Houston, 20-10.

LAST MEETING: Chargers defeated Kansas City, 27-21, on Sept. 5.

VEGAS LINE (courtesy Westgate): Chiefs -5.5 -108, O/U 41.5

BETTING TRENDS: Los Angeles has won and covered its last two games. The Chargers, who have stayed under in three of four, are mired in a 0-4 ATS road skid. Kansas City is mired in losing skids of 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS since the start of November. The Chiefs have stayed under in seven of their last eight.

CHARGERS KEY PLAYERS: QB Justin Herbert passed for 139 yards and a TD while rushing for 66 yards in last week’s win over the defending Super Bowl champs. Herbert has 240 or more yards passing with two ore more touchdown passes in three of his five road starts this season. He completed 25-of-34 attempts (73.5%) for 318 yards and three TDs versus no interceptions with a 131.7 rating and added 32 yards rushing in the Week 1 meeting. … RB Omarion Hampton turned in 67 scrimmage yards (56 rushing, 11 receiving) and his first-career TD catch in last week’s victory, his first game since Week 5. He has a TD in three of his past four. He had 61 scrimmage yards (48 rushing, 13 receiving) in the Week 1 meeting. … WR Keenan Allen had seven receptions for 68 yards and a TD in the Week 1 meeting. In 16 meetings, Allen has 98 receptions for 1,151 yards (6.1 rpg. and 71.9 ypg.) with six touchdowns.

PROP TO WATCH: Justin Herbert Over 210 yards passing (+107)

Herbert is overdue for a big game, as he’s passed for 81, 151 and 139 yards the past three weeks. Prior to that, he would have thrown for more than 210 in five straight. He’s thrown over today’s total eight out of 13 games this season. At a rival stadium, with postseason aspirations, consider Herbert – injured non-throwing hand and all – to go over.

CHIEFS KEY PLAYERS: QB Patrick Mahomes passed for 160 yards and rushed for 59 yards last week. Mahomes ranks third in the NFL with 3,398 yards passing and third in the AFC with 22 TD passes. He is one of three QBs, along with Drake Maye and Dak Prescott, with 250 ore more yards passing in 10 games this season. He passed for 3,528 yards (271.4 per game) and has 29 TDs (28 passing, 1 rushing) with a 100.1 rating in 13 career starts versus the Bolts, including going 24 of 39 (61.5%) for 258 yards with two TDs (1 passing, 1 rushing) in the Week 1 meeting. … RB Kareem Hunt rushed for 30 yards and a TD last week and has a TD in five of his past six. … WR Hollywood Brown had 35 yards receiving in Week 14 and had 10 catches for 99 yards in the Week 1 meeting.

PROP TO WATCH: Patrick Mahomes anytime TD scorer (+390)

Mahomes is in a situation where he is going to have to hoist the Chiefs on his shoulders and will them into the postseason, if that’s even possible. When they get into the end zone, and the Chargers’ secondary shuts his passing lanes off, it’s conceivable to see him scramble for a score.