EL SEGUNDO — The Chargers limited Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to 258 yards passing and one touchdown in their 27-21 victory in last week’s season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Limited, as in, Mahomes’ creativity wasn’t fully on display as it has been so often in the past.
It was a challenge the Chargers met with full force while ending a seven-game losing streak to their AFC West rivals. It was a test the Chargers had failed repeatedly as the Chiefs ruled their matchups for a four-year period, winning a series of hard-fought, one-score games.
Now, here comes Geno Smith of the Las Vegas Raiders, a different type of quarterback and a different type of challenge for the Chargers’ defense. Smith had 362 yards on 24-of-34 passing with one touchdown in his Raiders’ debut, a 20-13 road win against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
“Geno is a great player,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said of Smith, a 12-year veteran. “He’s always been, I think, kind of underrated in the NFL. His ability to throw the football, stand in the pocket, he can make every throw great. He’s a really, really accurate passer.”
Mahomes is renowned for his ability to create something from nothing, scrambling for first downs when his receivers are covered or somehow finding a way to throw a pass while falling out of bounds or falling on his face. Smith is more of a drop-back passer, who can scramble, too.
“We have our hands full,” Minter said.
The Chargers might be without two starters for Monday night’s game against the Raiders. Linebacker Denzel Perryman injured his ankle in the first quarter of the victory over the Chiefs and hasn’t practiced this week. Safety Elijah Molden hurt his hamstring in practice this week.
Coach Jim Harbaugh was tight-lipped when asked about the availability of Perryman and Molden. Troy Dye replaced Perryman, smacking Mahomes with a pair of solid hits on scrambles, and is likely to fill in again if Perryman can’t play. Harbaugh didn’t say who might replace Molden.
It could make defending Smith and, especially, tight end Brock Bowers significantly more difficult on Monday. Bowers sustained a knee injury against the Patriots, but he still managed to catch five passes from Smith for 103 yards, an NFL-leading 20.6 yards per reception.
Minter referred to Bowers as “an elite weapon.”
“You have your hands full when he’s out there,” Minter also said of Bowers, a second-year player. “He’s a receiver, he’s a tight end, he’s an electric athlete, yards after the catch, catch and run – he can do all that. Geno’s a guy, if you give guys space, he can find the windows and he can get the ball in there.”
Much as he did on occasion while defending Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. might be shadowing Bowers. Kelce had relatively modest totals of two receptions and 47 yards without a touchdown on four targets from Mahomes in Brazil.
“Oh man, one of the best tight ends in this league right now,” James said of Bowers, who caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards as a rookie last season. “Fast, can run all the routes, great young player. I can’t wait. I hope so (matching up with Bowers one-on-one). I hope so. I’m looking forward to it.”
Of contending with Smith a little more than a week after doing all they could to subdue Mahomes, James said, “(Smith has) a big arm. He can make the throws outside. He’s a good quarterback. Once he gets in his rhythm, he can make the throws, being able to get his guys the ball.”