Feed Ken Walker and Win the Turnover Battle: The Blueprint vs. the Chargers

Chiefs Kingdom, the bye is over and the Chargers are rolling into Arrowhead banged up and winless.

Our Take: Don't get cute. Hand it to Ken Walker, protect the football, and let the Chargers beat themselves.

The numbers back it up. Per Chiefs.com's Matt McMullen, Walker ran for 537 yards through the first four games, the most by any player through Week 4 since 2010, and he still leads the NFL with 39 forced missed tackles.

The ball-security gap is just as loud. McMullen notes the Chargers lead the league with 13 giveaways (7 interceptions, 6 lost fumbles), while the Chiefs have turned it over only twice and sit at +5 in turnover margin. L.A. is also missing right tackle Joe Alt, safety Derwin James, cornerback Donte Jackson and receiver Tre' Harris, according to the Chargers' final injury report.

One warning: this rivalry stays close. Since 2018, 12 of 16 Chiefs-Chargers games were decided by one score, per Chiefs.com.

What to watch: early Walker carries, whether George Karlaftis and the pass rush get home against a patched-up line, and the fourth quarter, where Kansas City has a +19 scoring margin and no turnovers this season.

Sources: Chiefs.com: Five Things to Watch, Chargers.com injury report