In Week 14 of "Sunday Night Football," the fate of the AFC West title hangs in the balance. If the Kansas City Chiefs manage to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers on this Sunday night, they will clinch their remarkable ninth consecutive divisional title. This victory would not only give them the head-to-head tiebreaker but also a substantial four-game lead over the Chargers with four weeks still left in the season. The Chiefs recently achieved a divisional win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday, demonstrating their tenacity. In the game's final seconds, with a 19 - 17 lead, their defense stepped up by recovering a fumble by the Raiders after a botched snap within field goal range. This marked their fifth straight win by a margin of seven or fewer points, dating back to their last encounter with Las Vegas in late October.

Chargers' Defensive Prowess

The Los Angeles Chargers showcased their defensive might in their Week 13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. On Sunday, they held the Falcons to just one touchdown and a total of 13 points, with none coming in the fourth quarter. Currently at 8 - 4, they are in a favorable position to make the playoffs even if the Chiefs win the division. A closer look at their defensive statistics reveals their true strength. They rank fourth in EPA/play allowed (-0.076) and sixth in success rate allowed (40.4%). Their passing defense, in particular, stands out as a strength, ranking third in dropback EPA/play (-0.057) and fourth in dropback success rate (41.9%).The Chargers' defense has been a force to be reckoned with this season, and their performance on Sunday night will be crucial in determining the outcome of the AFC West title race.

Chiefs' Recent Defensive Struggles

While the Chiefs have good numbers from a volume standpoint, with top-10 marks in yards allowed per game (311.9) and points allowed per game (19.6), these numbers don't hold up under closer scrutiny, especially in recent weeks. Since Week 9, their defense ranks 30th in EPA/play allowed (0.123), with only the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants performing worse during this span.The Chiefs' passing defense has been their biggest weakness lately, partly due to the loss of cornerback Jaylen Watson, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6. His replacement, Nazeeh Johnson, had been struggling before being benched during the Chiefs' game against the Raiders on Friday. However, the Chargers have relied heavily on their run game on offense this year, which may help even the scales on Sunday night.

Game Details and Broadcast Information

Time: 8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PTDate: Sunday, Dec. 8"Sunday Night Football" will kick off at its standard start time of 8:20 p.m. ET. Mike Tirico will handle the play-by-play duties, with Cris Collinsworth providing color commentary and Melissa Stark reporting from the sidelines during the Chiefs vs. Chargers game.NBC's weekly "Football Night in America" pregame show will begin at 7 p.m. ET and feature insights from a panel of analysts, including Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Chris Simms, Mike Florio, Devin McCourty, Tony Dungy, and more.For the 2024 NFL season, NBC will broadcast "Sunday Night Football" weekly. Fans who prefer to stream the game can do so with a Peacock subscription or through Fubo.