It's been 16 weeks since the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs first met to open the 2016 season.
Although they have trended in opposite directions, the pair will meet for the Week 17 finale at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. For the Chiefs, a lot rides on Sunday's game including a potential AFC West title and number two seed that would give the team a first-round bye in the playoffs.
On Monday, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said San Diego is "a team that never gives up" and knows his squad is in for a challenge.
"To do what they've done with all the injuries (they) have is amazing. The kids obviously believe in what they're doing because they play hard on both sides of the ball and on special teams. That I hope people appreciate. It's not an easy thing to do or get done."
"I agree with Coach, totally," affirmed Marcus Peters. "When you have a quarterback like that who can put up numbers and who is a gunslinger and when you have a (future) Hall of Fame tight end, they've been doing it for a long time and you have to respect them. You just go in with the same attitude."
The Chiefs know what Philip Rivers is capable of doing against them. Peters says number 17 is not only great in his own right, but great because "he makes those around him better".
"You better not snooze at all with that guy," Reid added. "He is a competitor and he makes everybody around him better. That's what great quarterbacks do; you see it. He's a heck of a player."
Additionally, the Chiefs defense knows it's essential to contain Antonio Gates on Sunday. Gates is one touchdown away from tying Tony Gonzalez for most touchdowns all-time by a tight end. As Reid attests, Gates is still a dynamic playmaker in his 14th season.
"That guy must be drinking from the fountain of youth because the second-half of his season here has been unbelievable. I just love watching him other than when we have to play him."
On the flipside, the Bolts defense looks a bit different than in Week 1. Most notably, up front and in the secondary as Joey Bosa and Casey Hayward have turned in strong performances in an otherwise rough season.
"(Hayward) has had a great year. I think he leads the league in interceptions and that's pretty good! There are some pretty good players in this league so he's done a heck of a job. I think (Bosa is) one of those guys who gives (his all) every down. He plays hard every snap and that's what we're preparing for. He obviously has pass rush ability and skill because the sacks are the things that get the attention, but he's a pretty complete football player."
