The Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 of the 2026 NFL regular season this Sunday (18), at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET (3:25 p.m. local Central Time at the stadium), with live coverage in the United States on CBS, NFL Sunday Ticket, Paramount+, and NFL+.
The division matchup pits the top and bottom teams of the AFC West against each other. In the NFL, standings are determined by win-loss-tie percentages rather than a points system, and the Kansas City Chiefs lead the division with an undefeated 4-0 record after beating the Broncos, Colts, Dolphins, and Raiders before their Week 5 bye. The Los Angeles Chargers sit in fourth and last place in the AFC West at 0-5, still seeking their first win of the 2026 campaign. In their most recent meeting, on December 14, 2025, the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 16-13 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Where to watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers live
Fans in the United States can watch the AFC West matchup across television and digital platforms, with play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan, analyst Trent Green, and sideline reporter Melanie Collins on the television broadcast call.
- CBS (broadcast television)
- NFL Sunday Ticket (pay-per-view)
- Paramount+ (streaming)
- NFL+ (streaming)
Start time and venue for Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Start time: 4:25 p.m. ET (3:25 p.m. CT, local time at the stadium)
- Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, in Kansas City, Missouri
- Competition: NFL — Week 6
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How the Kansas City Chiefs enter the game
Head coach Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo bring the Kansas City Chiefs back from their Week 5 bye averaging 29.5 points per game. Across his tenures with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, Reid holds a 22-5 regular-season record in games immediately following a bye week. Despite the opposing records, Reid dismissed any notion of an easy game against their division rivals. “We know that records don’t matter. They’ve been in every game and they’re playing their tail off,” Reid said.
On offense, starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes has totaled 1,037 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions through four games in 2026, while starting running back Kenneth Walker III has recorded 537 rushing yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The Week 6 depth chart lists Mahomes, Walker III, fullback Ben VanSumeren, wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, tight end Travis Kelce, and offensive linemen Josh Simmons (left tackle), Kingsley Suamataia (left guard), Creed Humphrey (center), Trey Smith (right guard), and Jaylon Moore (right tackle). On defense, the listed starters are George Karlaftis (left defensive end), Chris Jones (left defensive tackle), Khyiris Tonga (right defensive tackle), Ashton Gillotte (right defensive end), linebackers Nick Bolton, Jeffrey Bassa, and Drue Tranquill, cornerbacks Nohl Williams and Mansoor Delane, strong safety Chamarri Conner, and free safety Alohi Gilman.
On the Thursday (15) injury report, wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring and knee) did not practice for the second consecutive day. Left tackle Josh Simmons (back), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (knee), and rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods (neck) were limited participants, while Patrick Mahomes (knee) and Chamarri Conner (knee) practiced in full. Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton remains on the Injured Reserve list with an ankle injury. Official game status designations are released on Friday (16), and the final inactive list is confirmed 90 minutes before kickoff.
How the Los Angeles Chargers enter the game
Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Los Angeles Chargers average 16.8 points per game through five weeks. Addressing the 0-5 start, Harbaugh emphasized maintaining the team’s approach. “One of the things we were all put on this Earth to do was to handle both success and loss, to do that with the same passion and enthusiasm and to show that you belong,” Harbaugh said.
Starting quarterback Justin Herbert has completed 85 of 143 passes for 937 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions in five appearances this season, while starting running back Omarion Hampton leads the ground attack with 271 rushing yards. The Chargers’ Week 6 depth chart features Herbert, Hampton, wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre’ Harris, tight ends Oronde Gadsden II and Charlie Kolar, and interior offensive linemen Kayode Awosika (left guard), Jake Slaughter (center), and Cole Strange (right guard). Defensively, the depth chart lists Jamaree Caldwell, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Teair Tart on the interior line, edge rushers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, inside linebackers Daiyan Henley and Del’Shawn Phillips, cornerbacks Tarheeb Still and either Donte Jackson or Cam Hart, and safeties Derwin James Jr. and Elijah Molden, with kicker Cameron Dicker and punter JK Scott on special teams.
The Chargers have fullback Alec Ingold (shoulder) and linebacker Denzel Perryman on Injured Reserve. Seven players did not practice on Thursday (15): Joe Alt (neck), Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), Donte Jackson (hamstring), Kayode Awosika (fibula), Tre’ Harris (hamstring), Bud Dupree (neck and rest), and Rodney Shelley (hamstring). Ten players were listed as limited participants on Thursday, including Ladd McConkey (foot), Daiyan Henley (knee), Quentin Johnston (chest), and Brenen Thompson (quadriceps).
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Officiating crew for Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers
The NFL assigned referee Alan Eck (uniform number 76) as the lead official for Sunday’s matchup at Arrowhead Stadium. In the NFL, video review is handled by the league’s Replay Official rather than a soccer-style VAR system, and the exact roster of field assistants and the replay official assigned to Eck’s crew for this specific game has not been publicly detailed.
Head-to-head history between Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers
The Kansas City Chiefs lead the all-time series against the Los Angeles Chargers with 71 wins, 60 losses, and one tie. Although Kansas City has won seven of the last nine meetings overall, the Los Angeles Chargers swept both regular-season games between the two teams in 2025, culminating in the 16-13 victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 15 on December 14, 2025, a game in which Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury.
