Los Angeles Chargers: 3 things that must be different in rematch with Chiefs

Slow down Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt hasn’t been as dominant as he was when this year began, when it looked like he was going to run away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

In Week 3 against the Chargers, Hunt racked up 172 yards on 17 carries, including his longest run of the season to this point, a 69-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach.

The Chargers simply can’t allow the Chiefs’ running back to average 10.1 yards per carry again, but they have a guy on defense who they didn’t have in the first meeting… Denzel Perryman.

Statistically, the Chargers still have one of the worst run defenses in the league, but there is no doubt that Perryman’s return to the lineup has made it much better.

Perryman will be a key player in this game as he tries to help slow down the Chiefs’ rushing offense. Look for the Chiefs to try and get Hunt going early in order to help keep the pressure from Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa off of Alex Smith.

Get the running game going

The Chargers did not run the ball particularly well in the first meeting as Melvin Gordon had just 79 yards on 17 carries.

Rivers has been torching defenses lately through the air and the Chiefs are an inviting defense to throw the ball against. But the Chargers need to try and mix it up to keep the Chiefs’ defense on its heels.

Austin Ekeler did not have a carry in the first meeting so the team should look to get him involved in the running game as well. The team should also shoot to get Gordon over the century mark as that would help lead to the Chargers pulling off a big road win.