In Kansas City’s first divisional battle of the season, neither team will be playing at full strength.

Coming into the NFL’s Week 4, the (3-0) Kansas City Chiefs occupy first place in the AFC West. On Sunday, they’ll play the second-place team — the (2-1) Los Angeles Chargers — at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

While it’s Kansas City’s first divisional game of the 2024 season, it may not feel as intense as it should. The Chargers’ final injury report featured four cornerstone players:

• Left tackle Rashawn Slater: Out
• Edge rusher Joey Bosa: Out
• Quarterback Justin Herbert: Questionable after being limited in this week’s practices with an ankle injury
• Right tackle Joe Alt: Questionable after being held out of this week’s practices with a knee injury

In addition, safety Derwin James was suspended for this week’s matchup after an unnecessary roughness penalty in last week’s game — the seventh of his career.

The Chiefs won’t be whole, either. Defensive end Mike Danna injured his calf in practice this week and won’t play. It will be the team’s second game without starting running back Isiah Pacheco — and wide receiver Hollywood Brown has missed all of this season’s games.

There is no injury report, however, that will stop new Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh from striving for an upset in his first shot at the Chiefs.

Here are five things to watch during the game:

1. Creating more explosive plays

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The Chiefs’ offense has mostly succeeded at sustaining drives and staying ahead of the sticks this season. The unit has the league’s highest rushing success rate (56.5%) and has faced the fourth-fewest third downs.

But the offense has been clunky when finishing drives — whether that’s been from giving the ball away (the Chiefs have the fourth-highest rate of drives ending in turnovers) or stalling in the red zone: the team ranks 22nd in red-zone touchdowns.

The remedy is more explosive plays — on the ground and through the air. The backfield has only produced two rushes of 10 or more yards this season (both by Pacheco). Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is tied for the NFL’s lowest average depth of target (5.2 yards).

It’s on the scheme to help produce more big plays against a vulnerable defense — especially compared to the experienced, instinctive back ends Kansas City faced in the last two weeks.

2. Getting the Chargers to third-and-long

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If it feels like the Chiefs’ pass rush has been quiet this season, it’s because it has had limited opportunities to pin their ears back and go after sacks. The defense has faced the seventh-fewest third-down pass plays this season. Four of the unit’s six sacks have come on third down.

That will start on first down and second down, when Los Angeles will be testing Kansas City’s run defense: the Chargers have the fourth-highest run rate (55.5%). Especially with potential injury absences, running back J.K. Dobbins will be heavily featured; he has the league’s third-most rushing yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

The Chiefs have had success slowing down the opponent’s primary ball carrier; they should feel comfortable committing to doing so in this game, too. If Kansas City can create more obvious passing downs, the team will have more chances to attack the Chargers’ wounded pass protection.

3. A dominant Kansas City pass defense

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The first step will be forcing more passing downs. But then the Chiefs need to smother the Chargers in those situations, in which Kansas City should always have a strong advantage.

The injuries at offensive tackle will give pass rushers Chris Jones and George Karlaftis a chance to tee off from the edge, while Danna’s injury should allow second-year defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah to get an extended opportunity. Last Sunday, he earned the first full sack of his career — and forced a fumble in the process.

The pressure may be even more impactful if backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke plays — especially for the secondary. Heinicke has thrown 28 interceptions in 29 career starts. Chiefs’ cornerback Trent McDuffie is still looking for his first career pick.

4. Travis Kelce’s breakout game

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The Chiefs’ first three opponents deserve credit for formulating (and executing) sound plans to take tight end Travis Kelce out of the mix. But it doesn’t feel like the Chargers will have the coverage talent to continue that trend.

The injured unit will want to make Kansas City earn every downfield yard. That means its depleted safeties will be focused on keeping wide receiver Xavier Worthy from beating them deep — and containing wide receiver Rashee Rice after the catch.

So this feels like the game where Kelce takes advantage of James’ absence and returns to being Mahomes’ safety valve over the middle. The Los Angeles defense has allowed the fourth-most receptions to tight ends this season.

5. The return of Kareem Hunt

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Nearly six years since he last played for the Chiefs, it appears that Hunt will begin his journey to redemption on Sunday; he was signed to the 53-man roster this week.

He will be joined by running backs Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele in the backfield, giving the Chiefs a powerful trio of rushers. 87 of Steele’s 99 rushing yards this season have come after contact. Perine forced three missed tackles over nine touches in Week 3.

Last season, Hunt was used as a red-zone back for the Cleveland Browns. He scored a career-high nine touchdowns — all of them coming from inside the 20-yard line; six came in goal-to-go situations.

He also caught a touchdown pass in Cleveland’s playoff game. That’s an underrated part of what Hunt can bring to the table. It’ll be intriguing to watch him with the ball in his hands, whether it’s on a handoff or a dump-off to the flat.