Are Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers ready for measuring stick game against Chiefs?

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

During his introductory press conference back in January, Jim Harbaugh said he planned on winning multiple Super Bowls as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that has yet to hoist a Lombardi Trophy. 

Well, to do that, he’ll have to get past the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who happen to be in his own division. Harbaugh gets his first chance on Sunday in an AFC West matchup vs. the Chiefs at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity,” Harbaugh told reporters this week. “And we’re attacking it as such.” 

The Chargers have lost their past five games against Kansas City. But Harbaugh has a 5-1 record against the Chiefs as a player and a coach, including a 2-0 mark against Andy Reid. The two last met in 2014, when Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers to a 22-17 win over Kansas City.

Acknowledging the importance of Sunday’s game, Harbaugh gave props to Patrick Mahomes and how the Chiefs have dominated the past few years.

“He’s had an amazing career,” Harbaugh said of Mahomes. “There’s nothing he can’t do.”

In addition to facing the league’s best quarterback, the Chargers might be going into Sunday’s game without several key players due to injuries and a suspension.

Hard-hitting safety Derwin James lost his appeal with the league and will serve a one-game suspension for repeated violations of the rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, according to the NFL. The latest play under the microscope was James’ head-to-head collision with Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth last week. 

Harbaugh was disappointed in the league’s decision.

“Derwin, to the best of his ability, has tried to play the game safely,” Harbaugh said. “He genuinely does not want to hurt any other player, and the film is Exhibit A.” 

On the injury front, star quarterback Justin Herbert is still nursing a high-ankle sprain. Left tackle Rashawn Slater (strained pec), right…

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Publish date : 2024-09-27 13:49:07

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