Chiefs roll into Week 6 unbeaten as winless Chargers face a daunting trip to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are the last remaining unbeaten team in the AFC, and one of just three in the entire NFL heading into Week 6, while the Los Angeles Chargers are among the suffering trio of teams that have yet to win a game.

In many ways, it's back to normal for the Chiefs after a down season by their standards. But it's wholly unusual for the Chargers, who are coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons under Jim Harbaugh but are off to their worst start in more than two decades.

“One of the things we were all put on this Earth to do was to handle both success and loss," Harbaugh said recently, “to do that with the same passion and enthusiasm and to show that you belong.”

Yet it's hard to fathom the Chargers having a whole lot of passion when they head to Kansas City on Sunday.

Not only are the Chiefs among the league's highest-scoring teams again, and their defense under coordinator Steve Spagnuolo once again holding teams in check, they are coming off a bye — and Andy Reid is almost unbeatable in those situations.

Teams going back to his days with the Philadelphia Eagles are a combined 22-5 during the regular season when given a week off.

“We know that records don't matter. They've been in every game and they're playing their tail off,” Reid said of the Chargers, pointing out that much of the roster is the same from the bunch that beat Kansas City twice last season.

The second matchup in December was the game in which Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore ligaments in his left knee.

Mahomes is back to playing at a high level, though, helped by the success of free-agent acquisition Kenneth Walker III in the Chiefs' backfield. They're hitting deep passes as they were during Mahomes' early days in the league, and the fact he's been able to scramble, create and run the Kansas City offense without his knee causing any issues has put everyone in their building at ease.

His counterpart, Justin Herbert, has been a microcosm — or a big reason for — many of the Chargers' problems. He's tied with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for the most interceptions in the league, and only the Browns' Deshaun Watson has been sacked more entering Week 6.

“Listen, it’s a divisional opponent, so those games are really, really, really important,” Chiefs pass rusher George Karlaftis said. “With them not having gotten any wins, they’re going to be hungry. They’re going to be hungry to get their first win, and they’d like nothing more than to get a win against us. So, we’ve got to be on our stuff. It’s a team that their record, I don’t think, is indicative of the team that they are. They’re in every game, and we have a lot of respect for them.”

Los Angeles Chargers (0-5) at Kansas City (4-0)

When/where to watch: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, CBS.

Latest odds: Chiefs by 1 1/2.

Against the spread: Los Angeles 0-4-1, Kansas City 2-2.

Last week: Chargers lost to Broncos 23-17; Chiefs off.

Last meeting: Chargers beat Chiefs 16-13 on Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City.

Series record: Chiefs lead 71-60-1.

For all their ills, the Chargers have been good against the pass this season, allowing just 193 yards per game — sixth in the league. Mahomes has been playing at a high level, but he'll be without two of his top three wide receivers after Tyquan Thornton went on injured reserve with a dislocated ankle and Rashee Rice missed practice this week with a hamstring injury. If the Chiefs are unable to throw the ball against Los Angeles, that will put pressure on Walker to have another big game.

— Chiefs TE Travis Kelce needs 88 yards receiving against Los Angeles to pass Hall of Famer and former Chiefs standout Tony Gonzalez (15,413) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history.

— Kelce also can pass Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison (1,102) for the fifth-most catches with seven against the Chargers.

— DT Chris Jones is tied for third in Chiefs history with 87 1/2 sacks. Two will tie Tamba Hali for second behind Derrick Thomas.

— The Chargers have not won back-to-back games in Kansas City since 2020 and '21.

— Chargers LB Khalil Mack needs four sacks to reach 120 for his career. He would be the 25th player to reach that mark since sacks were first tracked during the 1982 season.

— Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill and free safety Alohi Gilman were drafted by the Chargers. CB Kristian Fulton spent the 2024 season with them.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) fumbles the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks during a news conference after the Broncos defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) waves as he walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A player revolt was about the last thing Manchester United needed in another troubled start to a season.

Lisandro Martinez's outburst following Tuesday's Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid added more unwanted focus on the club as manager Michael Carrick attempted to turn its ailing campaign around.

The Argentina defender called out United's hierarchy over its offseason recruitment, with director of football Jason Wilcox the apparent target of his criticism.

In January, Ruben Amorim had a fallout with Wilcox which swiftly led to the manager being fired after just 14 months in the job.

Martinez's comments have put United's leadership in the spotlight again and have broken the sense of calm at Old Trafford that Carrick had overseen since succeeding Amorim.

They suggest an underlying unrest in the face of another season that looks in danger of going badly wrong. Forward Amad Diallo also posted an expletive on social media following defeat in Madrid, describing it a “disgrace.”

Martinez issued an apology on social media on Thursday after a meeting with Carrick and what he called “the club's leadership.”

“It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game,” Martinez wrote. “Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

It is already 13 years since United last won the Premier League title and, six games into the season, it is languishing 13th in the standings, 12 points adrift of leader Manchester City.

United have only one league win, against promoted Ipswich, and two overall, the other one against Azerbaijani team Sabah in the Champions League.

The club also crashed out of the English League Cup at the first stage.

There have been boos from fans, most recently following the home draw against winless Tottenham on Saturday.

“I’m not happy with the amount of points we’ve had so far, for sure," Carrick said. "You know, I’m not hiding that. There’s no hiding from that.

“I understand the reaction at times. It hurts a lot. It’s not nice to go through. Sometimes you have to go through it."

There is no suggestion Carrick's position is in danger after he became United's seventh permanent manager since club great Alex Ferguson retired following that title win in 2013.

But he is facing familiar problems that were seen under predecessors Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho, who all endured poor runs before losing their jobs.

Six points from six games represents United's worst start in the Premier League era, and on Sunday comes a clash with fierce rival Leeds at Elland Road, coincidentally the setting for Amorim's final game.

The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere.

City can extend its 100% start to the season when it hosts Ipswich. Defending champion Arsenal travels to Nottingham Forest.

Bradley Barcola is up and running at Liverpool after scoring a hat trick in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Then, of course, there is Martinez. Will Carrick stick with the defender after his outburst or drop him?

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch is suspended after being sent off against City, while Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak missed the last two games with injuries.

Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo missed United's defeat to Atletico.

Arsenal will be without Piero Hincapie for several weeks, according to manager Mikel Arteta, after he picked up an injury in training. Martin Zubimendi is also a doubt following a separate training injury.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez attends a training session at Carrington Training Centre, Manchester, England, Monday Oct. 12, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick looks on during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)