This Sunday, the San Diego Chargers will be back at home playing their division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs The Chargers are looking for their sixth straight win on the season in order to keep pace with the 4-1Denver Broncos. The Chargers have made strong a case as the hottest team in the NFL to start the season with a 6-1 record.

Last weekend, quarterback Philip Rivers continued his fantastic start to the season, throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns against a struggling Raiders defense. The Raiders had looked extremely mediocre in their first four games losing all of them. However, in a game that most predicted to be a blowout, the Raiders stayed level with the Chargers for most of the game including when they took a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Nonetheless, with the highest quarterback rating in the league, Rivers was not going to go down easily. After a field goal drive to cut the Raiders lead down to four, the Chargers’ defense then got  a key stop. Thus, Rivers got another opportunity with the ball and did not disappoint, leading the Chargers on a long drive down the field that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by running back Brandon Oliver to take the lead and ultimately the game. Oliver has proved to be a major contributor to the team as he has stepped up and carried the run game with the injuries of Danny Woodhead and Ryan Matthews.

Although the Chargers showed some weaknesses in the game barely edging out the winless Raiders 31-28, they also showed strong mental toughness as they stayed persistent in times of controversy throughout.

This weekend, the Chargers are going to have to play much better on both sides of the ball when they play the Chiefs. The Chiefs have two wins and three losses on the season but have played very tough competition including losses to the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers.

Additionally, the Chiefs are coming off of a bye week and will be well-rested and prepared for the Chargers. They will test the Chargers defense that seemed very vulnerable this weekend with their dynamic run game. Chiefs running back, Jamal Charles, who has been one of the most productive and exciting players over the past few seasons, but has struggled after getting fewer touches on the ball.

However, this weekend, the Chiefs will likely make a conscious effort to get him back into rhythm by giving him more carries. This will be interesting as the Chargers defense is ninth in the league in fewest rushing yards per game at 99 yards a game. If they can contain the run game, they will force Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith to throw the ball against a Chargers secondary that is fourth in the league on fewest passing yards allowed per game.

On the other side, the Chiefs defense has been very solid on the year in their victories. They have good pass rush and a physical secondary that will try to make Rivers uncomfortable. The Chiefs defense will possibly receive a huge boost if pro bowl safety Eric Berry can return from injury. Berry is a dominant safety who has a reputation for creating lots of problems for opposing receivers and quarterbacks.

However, the Chargers ultimately have Rivers, who is off to an MVP caliber start, who has arguably been the best player in the league and will attempt to again shred up another defense. Rivers has been spot on winning NFL player of the month for September and is now looking to continue to play at such an elevated level than the last couple of years.

Recent history suggests that the Chargers should win as they have won their last four against the Chiefs.   If the Chargers are able to get off to a good start and can control the Chiefs run game, they should be able to win their sixth straight game and fifth in a row against the Chiefs.