By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

The predictions have been made, the previews have been released and now the action on the field begins for the 2018 NFL season. For the Kansas City Chiefs the start of the new year means a road trip to face AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.

The two-time defending AFC West Division champions have owned the division recently as the Chiefs have won 18 of their last 20 games against division foes. The Chiefs will look to continue that dominance with a vastly different roster from the one they brought to Southern California in 2017. Leading the way on offense now is QB Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes is new familiar names like WR Tyreek Hill, RB Kareem Hunt and TE Travis Kelce return to provide the new QB many options to work with. The Chargers offense is expected to again provide entertaining moments for fans thanks to QB Phillip Rivers, RB Melvin Gordon and future Hall of Famer TE Antonio Gates.

While fans have their eyes focused on the offense side of the ball Sunday it’s the team’s defense that may provide the difference between a win or a loss. The Chargers have a true stopper in DE Joey Bosa and a young linebacker corps that will give the Chiefs fits at times. The Chiefs counter with All Pro LB Justin Houston, DE Chris Jones and a defense with a +15 turnover differential last season.

The Chiefs have won eight straight against the Chargers, Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 8-2 as KC Chiefs coach against the Chargers and Reid has won three won straight openers. In fact Reid has won four of the five season openers as Chiefs coach. Despite a lot of new faces playing in this rivalry game expect the same outcome as the Chiefs open a season again with a win.

That’s What I REID Into It for this week.