How will the Chiefs offense look without Rashee Rice?

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 17-10, giving them a 4-0 record early in the NFL season. The game was ugly, but a knee injury suffered by star wideout Rashee Rice dampened the win .

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw an interception in the first quarter. While trying to make a tackle, Mahomes collided with Rice, resulting in the injury. Rice walked gingerly to the sideline and eventually rode in the back of the cart to the locker room.

He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game, and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid did not sound optimistic about outlook.

The Chiefs clawed out the victory, but Rice's injury added to a long list of offensive players who have been injured. Receiver Hollywood Brown was already expected to miss the entire regular season with an injury, and running back Isiah Pacheco had an uncertain timetable following a fracture suffered in Week 2.

Without three of their key playmakers, the Chiefs have been forced to adjust, and the end of this matchup against the Chargers could be a preview of how things could look in uncharted territory.

Relying on Kelce Despite multiple headlines throughout the week about Travis Kelce, the 34-year-old tight end showed that he can still be the go-to guy in the Chiefs offense. Kelce finished the game with seven catches for 89 yards and came up big for the Chiefs on multiple must-win downs.

Kelce was able to shoulder the load against a battered Chargers secondary, and if the team wants to continue its success, he must continue to step up in these big moments. The slow start to the season appears to be shaken off, but Kelce has to continue to play at this level for the offense to sustain success.

Pounding the rock and going deep Without Rice, the Chiefs did find ways to move the ball (and score) with deep shots and a sustained running attack. One drive after Rice left with Injury, Mahomes connected with Xavier Worthy on a deep 54-yard touchdown.

Worthy only had two other receptions, but his last of the day iced the game for Kansas City.

Worthy is still a developing player, but the Chiefs will need him to continue to step up big as the season progresses. Starting running back Carston Steele fumbled on the Chiefs' first drive of the game, leading to points for the Chargers.

As the game continued, Kansas City leaned more on Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine. Hunt finished with 69 yards on 14 rushes, while Perine scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The bottom line Life without Rice is going to change the makeup of who the Chiefs are offensively, but they do have the pieces in place with Kelce, the backfield, the offensive line and Worthy to recover as well as they can while attempting to three-peat.