Here are some areas the San Diego Chargers need to focus on after a 20-17 home victory over the Kansas City Chiefs:
Recap: At the end of the day, the objective is to win. That’s it. So, we probably shouldn’t be too hard on the Chargers. Yes, they let the Chiefs hang around too much and yes, the Chargers continued to turn the ball over (the Chargers have committed eight turnovers this season). But they are 2-1, and that’s a positive for a team that usually struggles in September.
Biggest area to fix: San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers is a bit off. He has thrown six interceptions and he is not as sharp as he usually is. I’d like to see him get better protection. Rivers has been hit a few too many times and he has been feeling a lot of pressure.
Biggest area to build on: Rivers is getting help from his second-year tailback Ryan Mathews. Mathews had 98 yards rushing, 51 yards receiving and two touchdowns Sunday. The Chargers are starting to trust him more. He is now getting the ball in the red zone after he has shown better ball security. Mathews has the look of a player who will continue to get better.
What to watch for: The Chargers have a golden opportunity to reach the quarter mark of the season with a 3-1 record. That is the goal of most teams. If you go 3-1 in all four quarters, you end up 12-4 and virtually ensure a playoff spot. The Chargers host winless Miami on Sunday.