At the Chargers’ coordinators media availability earlier this week, both Greg Roman and Jesse Minter laid out some ways that the rematch vs. the Chiefs will be different.
First up was Minter, who mentioned that both teams have some different personnel compared to the first game. Safety Derwin James was suspended for the team's first game vs. the Chiefs in LA. Minter spoke on the potential matchup of James vs. Kansas City TE Travis Kelce:
"To have Derwin eases your mind a little bit,” Minter said. “Not that that's a guarantee, Travis is such a great player. They've had so many good battles."
"That's what this league is about-the best on best matchups.”
Minter also noted that he was excited to see Joey Bosa play in this game. Bosa missed the first matchup against the Chiefs with the hip injury he reaggravated against the Steelers just a week earlier.
But it’s not just the Chargers who will look a little bit different from last game. Minter also spoke on Kansas City’s offensive personnel being different, specifically mentioning the in-season acquisition of WR DeAndre Hopkins and the return of RB Isiah Pacheco. Carson Steele, Kareem Hunt, and Samaje Perine split carries for the Chiefs’ backfield vs. the Chargers in September.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 against the Chargers. Minter noted that their preparation for Rice last game relative to what they’re doing this week for the Chiefs’ offensive weapons this time around is different.
OC Greg Roman stepped up to the podium to field questions after Minter did. In the theme of pointing out differences from the last meeting with the Chiefs, Roman had some rather direct commentary on the state of the offense back in Week 4:
"You take out the two tackles (Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater) and Justin (Herbert) could barely move at the time,” Roman explained. “I think it's gonna be a very different ball game." Hebert looked much closer to full health following the teams’ BYE Week that came right after their last matchup with the Chiefs.
The Chargers are coming into Sunday’s game against the Chiefs looking for their first win against them in over three years. 2021 Brandon Staley in his first season as head coach led the Chargers to their last win over the Chiefs.
If Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff believe that this game really will be different than Week 4, perhaps LA can spoil Kansas City’s AFC West coronation on Sunday Night Football.