The Chargers and Chiefs renew acquaintances on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. And there’s quite the presence on the Kansas City sideline.
The dominance has been impressive, to say the least. It comes in the form of a combined 41-13 win-loss record against their divisional brethren. And while the rest of the AFC West improved this season thanks to some major acquisitions, the Kansas City Chiefs remain the class of this foursome until someone can knock them off on a consistent basis.
The common denominator is the longest-active head coach in the NFL. Yes, Bill Belichick has been at the helm of the New England Patriots since 2000. But Andy Reid has been a head coach in this league dating back to 1999. That was his first year with Philadelphia. He was in the City of Brotherly Love for 13 seasons and led the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX. The Birds came up short against Belichick’s Pats, 24-21.
Things ended somewhat ugly in Philadelphia. But Reid wasn’t unemployed long and was hired by the Chiefs in 2013. He’s posted nine straight winning seasons and guided the club to the playoffs eight times – including each of the past seven years. The Chiefs have hosted the AFC title game for four straight years, winning Super Bowl LIV and losing Super Bowl LV.
Kansas City has also captured six straight division titles and has dominated each of their AFC West rivals in very convincing fashion. Dating back to 2013, Reid owns a 13-5 record vs. both the Chargers and Broncos and an imposing 15-3 mark vs. the Raiders. And that win-loss slate vs. Denver is highlighted by 13 straight victories in the series dating back to the clubs’ second encounter in 2015.
A reminder that Alex Smith was the team’s primary starting quarterback during Reid’s first five seasons with the franchise. Patrick Mahomes took over in 2018 and the Chiefs have hit new heights.
The Chargers invade Kansas City on Thursday night and have won at Arrowhead Stadium three of the past four years. They come off a 24-19 win over the Raiders and a victory here would give them an early 2-0 divisional record. It’s a franchise that hasn’t won the AFC West since 2009. Obviously, Reid and the Chiefs will have plenty to say on the matter.