Chiefs at Chargers: Week 17 preview, odds and injuries

Week 17 · Sun, Jan 3 · SoFi Stadium12 AM ET

at12 AMET · TBD

At a glanceUpdated Nov 10, 2026, 6:15 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) visit the Los Angeles Chargers (0-8) on Sun, Jan 3, time TBD at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA (Week 17, 2026 season).

When and where is Chiefs vs Chargers?

Sun, Jan 3, time TBD at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

Who is injured for Chiefs vs Chargers?

Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, out, knee - acl), Jaylon Moore (OT, questionable, ankle), Mansoor Delane (CB, questionable, shoulder), Patrick Mahomes (QB, questionable, elbow), Peter Woods (DT, questionable, neck) and Xavier Worthy (WR, questionable, hamstring). Chargers: Brenen Thompson (WR, questionable, quadriceps), Deane Leonard (CB, questionable, concussion), Isas Waxter (CB, questionable, ankle), Justin Eboigbe (DT, questionable, ankle), Justin Herbert (QB, questionable, finger) and Kayode Awosika (G, questionable, lower leg) (plus 2 more).

Cite this page

Pigskin Nightly, “Chiefs at Chargers: Week 17 preview”, https://pigskinnightly.com/games/2027-01-03-kc-at-lac (updated 2026-11-10).

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Regular season through week 16 · rank out of 32

Where this game will be decided

1Chiefs run defense vs Chargers run game
The Chiefs' run defense ranks 6th in EPA per rush (-0.16 allowed, 197 rushes faced) and faces a Chargers run game ranked 32nd (-0.25, 201 rushes).
32ndLAC offense26 spots apart6thKC defense
2Chiefs pass defense vs Chargers dropback offense
The Chiefs' pass defense ranks 10th in EPA per dropback (-0.01 allowed, 305 dropbacks faced) and faces a Chargers dropback offense ranked 32nd (-0.24, 296 dropbacks).
32ndLAC offense22 spots apart10thKC defense
3Chiefs red-zone defense vs Chargers red-zone offense
The Chiefs' red-zone defense ranks 3rd in red-zone touchdown rate (38% allowed, 21 trips faced) and faces a Chargers red-zone offense ranked 29th (47%, 19 trips).
29thLAC offense26 spots apart3rdKC defenseSmall sample, read with care Why sample size matters

When the Chiefs have the ballEdge KC · +18 ranks

KC dropback offenseEPA per dropbackLAC pass defense

8th+0.16290 dropbacks

KC +10

+0.06 allowed255 dropbacks faced18th

KC run gameEPA per rushLAC run defense

2nd+0.09195 rushes

KC +18

-0.06 allowed218 rushes faced20th

Dropbacks include sacks and scrambles; rushes are designed runs. What EPA measures.

When the Chargers have the ballEdge KC · +26 ranks

LAC dropback offenseEPA per dropbackKC pass defense

32nd-0.24296 dropbacks

KC +22

-0.01 allowed305 dropbacks faced10th

LAC run gameEPA per rushKC run defense

32nd-0.25201 rushes

KC +26

-0.16 allowed197 rushes faced6th

Third downEdge KC · +17 ranks

KC third-down offensethird-down conversion rateLAC third-down defense

12th42.1%95 third downs

35.1% allowed97 third downs faced7th

LAC third-down offensethird-down conversion rateKC third-down defense

27th36.0%114 third downs

KC +17

37.6% allowed109 third downs faced10th

Conversions are third-down snaps that gained a first down or scored.

Red zoneEdge KC · +26 ranks

KC red-zone offensered-zone touchdown rateLAC red-zone defense

10th63%30 trips

53% allowed32 trips faced13th

LAC red-zone offensered-zone touchdown rateKC red-zone defense

29th47%19 trips

KC +26

38% allowed21 trips faced3rd

A trip is a drive with at least one snap inside the opponent's 20; the rate is trips that ended in an offensive touchdown. Small samples swing fast here.

Explosive playsEdge KC · +21 ranks

KC big-play offenseexplosive-play rateLAC defense against big plays

4th10.9%485 plays

KC +21

10.1% allowed473 plays faced25th

LAC big-play offenseexplosive-play rateKC defense against big plays

26th7.8%497 plays

KC +19

7.6% allowed502 plays faced7th

Completions of 20+ yards and runs of 10+, per snap. Definition.

Pressure & sacksEdge KC · +19 ranks

KC pass protectionsack rateLAC pass rush

6th3.8% sacked290 dropbacks

KC +19

5.1% of dropbacks255 dropbacks faced25th

LAC pass protectionsack rateKC pass rush

31st10.5% sacked296 dropbacks

4.6% of dropbacks305 dropbacks faced31st

Sacks per dropback. The public play-by-play has no pressure charting, so this is the sack side of it only.

TurnoversEdge KC · +18 ranks

KC ball securityturnovers per gameLAC takeaway defense

5th0.8 giveaways a game8 games

1.4 takeaways a game8 games10th

LAC ball securityturnovers per gameKC takeaway defense

32nd2.3 giveaways a game8 games

KC +18

1.3 takeaways a game8 games14th

Interceptions and lost fumbles on offensive snaps, per game. Turnover rates are among the least stable numbers in football.

AbsencesKC 0 · LAC 0 regulars out or doubtful

Chiefs6 listed

0 of them are regulars ruled out or doubtful (60%+ of their unit's snaps across 3+ weeks on the field).

QPatrick MahomesQB99% offense · 8 wk
QJaylon MooreOT87% offense · 7 wk
QXavier WorthyWR83% offense · 8 wk
QMansoor DelaneCB79% defense · 5 wk
OUTOmarr Norman-LottDTno snaps
QPeter WoodsDTno snaps

Chargers8 listed

0 of them are regulars ruled out or doubtful (60%+ of their unit's snaps across 3+ weeks on the field).

QJustin HerbertQB97% offense · 8 wk
QKayode AwosikaG69% offense · 2 wk
QLadd McConkeyWR53% offense · 6 wk
QJustin EboigbeDT47% defense · 8 wk
QDeane LeonardCB32% defense · 4 wk
QIsas WaxterCB26% defense · 4 wk
QBrenen ThompsonWR18% offense · 2 wk
QKendall WilliamsonSno snaps

Snap share is the average of the weeks each player was on the field this season. Full injury report ↓

Rest & travelSame rest · KC travels 1,366 mi

AwayChiefs

7days since last game

1,366miles to get here

2time zones

Last: Sun wk 16 vs SF · 8,895 mi flown this season

2 time zones

Rest edgeEvensame restTravel gap 1,366 mi

HomeChargers

7days since last game

0miles · home

0time zones

Last: Sun wk 16 at MIA · Miami Gardens · 9,074 mi flown this season

Normal week

League splits for these situations ↓

Sample: KC 8 games, 485 offensive and 502 defensive plays · LAC 8 games, 497 offensive and 473 defensive plays. Rank 1 is the best offense or the best defense in each stat. Keys are the largest rank gaps (12+ spots) between an offense and the defense it faces, one per stat. Ranks are not schedule-adjusted.

Season to date · rank out of 32