Chargers send defiant message to Chiefs with bold schedule choice

The LA Chargers will be the host team in the NFL's second-ever game in Brazil and are likely to face off against a familiar foe. According to reports, the Chargers will host the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever game broadcast on traditional YouTube for free.

Chargers fans let out a collective groan when the report was first announced. Beating the Chiefs is already hard enough as is; beating them to start the season in an international setting is even more difficult. Let's also not forget that season ticket holders will lose a marquee home game to attend if the Chargers are hosting the Chiefs in Brazil.

While the initial response from the fanbase wasn't favorable, it does not appear the team itself is worried about facing the Chiefs in Week 1. In fact, according to Pro Football Talk, the Chargers had the opportunity to block the Chiefs as a Week 1 opponent and decided not to.

The Chargers didn't use either of their two protections on any of the team's AFC West games. It is unknown which two opponents the Chargers protected.

Chargers boldly tell the Chiefs they aren't afraid of them

It would have been really easy for the Chargers to protect their home matchup against the Chiefs to ensure it didn't happen in Week 1. After all, beating the Chiefs is already hard enough and they are the dragon that needs to be slain. The Chargers need every advantage they can get, including a proper home game.

Those in the locker room don't seem to care much about this dragon. By allowing this matchup to happen in Brazil, the Chargers are effectively telling the Chiefs "any time, any place."

While the Chargers have not had that much success in the win-loss column against the Chiefs, it isn't hard to see why the Bolts aren't intimidated. The Chargers always play the Chiefs closely, and with the leaps made this offseason, may finally take at least one half of the season series.

The Chargers led the Chiefs 10-0 in the first matchup last season and ended up losing 17-10 with the myriad of injuries simply catching up to the Bolts. Fast forward later in the season and the Chiefs needed a doinked field goal to beat the Chargers by two.

Morale victories mean nothing in the NFL but the Chargers are right on the cusp of beating Kansas City. It doesn't matter where the game happens — Los Angeles, Kansas City, or even Brazil — the Chargers are confident in their ability to upset the Chiefs next season.

Hopefully, the confidence can lead to an actual result. The Chargers haven't beaten the Chiefs in a game the starters played since 2021.