The Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals share a parking lot at the Truman Sports Complex. But the Royals’ devil magic that led them to the World Series has slowly spread across the parking lot. After all, supernatural forces are one of the most popular theories behind the Chiefs’ 11-1 record. But the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, 8-4, will look to shift Kansas City’s losing record from singular to plural this week.

The main AFC West game takes place on Sunday evening and could solidify the division with a win for Kansas City. The Charges and Denver Broncos are both currently eight-win teams, but if the Chiefs improve to 12-1 with four weeks to go, the division race would be over. Kansas City’s run atop the AFC West is one of the best ever in football, making the Broncos’ dominant run under quarterback Peyton Manning a distant memory.

After last Friday’s unexpected win, what do our writers think about this week’s match? What should fans pay attention to?

Patrick Allen
The Chiefs are obviously in trouble. They don’t seem to be able to play a full football game at the moment. The tackling is a mess and the defense is slipping. After nearly losing to two of the league’s worst teams in Carolina and Las Vegas, it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs beating the red-hot Chargers. KC has dealt with some luck and mistakes from its opponents over the last two weeks. LA is too well trained to shoot itself in the foot. Until the Chiefs find their identity, I can’t pick them against a good opponent. Time for KC to hit rock bottom.
Chargers 31, Chiefs 20

Matt Conner
I strongly believe in what Jim Harbaugh is doing and think the Chargers will give the Chiefs a leg up going forward. But they’re banged up, and it’s possible that JK Dobbins, Ladd McConkey and Cam Hart are all out while the defense is already banged up. At some point the tightrope act will be too much for the Chiefs, but not this week.
Chiefs 20, Chargers 18

Braden Holecek

This will be one of the most challenging games left on the regular season schedule. Kansas City needs to be able to play more complete games and create better protection for Patrick Mahomes. Can the defense also act more controlled again? Overall, I’m keeping an eye on how Kansas City’s pass defense performs and which names stand out among the defensive backs. Can certain players not named Trent McDuffie secure roles in the future? It’s worth watching how the secondary behaves.

Chiefs 24, Chargers 20

Felix Johnson
The Chargers were expected to beat the Chiefs on Sunday night. Children should do their homework. I should drive a Lamborghini. The Chiefs defense needs to step up after the last few weeks and DJ Humphries needs to start easing all of our worries.
Chiefs 27, Chargers 17

Jacob Milham
This isn’t your dad’s Chargers team, and you don’t hear that in the offseason, so you should believe it. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has his roster firmly planted in the playoff picture, and a sputtering Kansas City team appears to be the perfect statement game for him. The availability of cornerback Cam Hart and wide receiver Ladd McConkey will be an interesting topic, but Los Angeles sets the tone early and wins this game in the trenches.
Chargers 27, Chiefs 20

Shawn O’Brate
Too many games have ended this season. I know it, you know it, Mahomes knows it and everyone on the sidelines knows it. With that in mind, I think the Chiefs are throwing haymakers early in the game and hoping for a hit or two. Whether it’s long rainbows for Xavier Worthy or a few tricks from the crazy mind of Andy Reid, it doesn’t matter. I think Kansas City can finally get an early edge against a division opponent before they do what they do best and take their foot off the gas with a few mistakes. LA is catching up, but Kansas City is proving they love the pressure at the end of the game, just like they have for most of the last two years, winning late but winning anyway.

Chiefs 28, Chargers 24

Charles Robinson
Do the Chiefs have any deficiencies? Yes. Were the last two games too close to calm down? Surely. But I have mentally turned the tide and am confident that they are still the class of the league and will win their ninth straight AFC West title in convincing fashion against the Chargers on Sunday night.
Chiefs 33, Chargers 20

Stacy D Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs host a familiar opponent on Sunday in a nationally televised affair. The LA Chargers come to town fresh off a four-point win over the Atlanta Falcons. Over the last three weeks, the Bolts have given up 328 rushing yards to the trio of Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry and Chase Brown. The Chiefs will take advantage of this with a heavy dose of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Without their own starter in the backfield, I expect the Chargers to experience some inconsistency on offense. Mahomes has a comeback game, the Chiefs defensive front pressures Justin Herbert and the Chiefs win again.
Chiefs 24, Chargers 20

Lucas Strozinsky
At this point, expecting the Chiefs to win by more than a field goal is just plain greedy. The Chiefs will win, but once again it will be very ugly.
Chiefs 26, Chargers 25