The Chargers are 0-4 and lots of consider the percentages present a staff that could possibly be winless deep into the month of November. After this week’s sport towards the Broncos, the Chargers face the Chiefs, have a bye in Week Seven, then face the Rams, Texans, and Ravens within the subsequent weeks. Lastly, on November twenty second, they play the Jets which seems to be like their finest shot at a getting their first victory.
However what if I advised you that this week, towards a Broncos staff that does NOT look all that nice on paper, could possibly be their closest probability at getting within the win column properly earlier than then?
The Broncos are within the backside third of the league most offensive and defensive classes by the primary month of the season. So are the Chargers, however that’s what makes this matchup near a coin flip! Jim Harbaugh and Co., at dwelling, couldn’t solely earn a much-needed win, but in addition get to .500 within the AFC West by beating Denver.
I’m not going to sit down right here and offer you far more than the little hope I can glean from the stat sheet, however when there’s subsequent to nothing else to be optimistic about this yr, we have now to take what we will get.
With that stated, listed here are the three issues I’ll be waiting for when these two groups take the sector in SoFi Stadium this weekend.
1.) Which unhealthy offense will handle to come back by for his or her staff?
The Chargers enter Week 5 ranked twenty first in whole offense (306.8) however twenty ninth in factors per sport (16.5).
The Broncos are presently ranked twenty eighth in whole offense (280.3) whereas they’re averaging 18.5 factors per sport (twenty seventh).
So whereas they’re scoring extra factors per sport, the Chargers are shifting the ball at a greater clip (that’s actually bizarre to say nevertheless it’s true!).
Sunday’s matchup may very well be a more in-depth combat than the soccer world is giving it credit score for. The numbers on each side of the ball for Denver are actually not that a lot better, if in any respect, than the Bolts.
The most important distinction between the Chargers at 0-4 and the Broncos at 2-2 has been the dearth of turnovers by quarterback Bo Nix. He’s thrown yet another landing move than Herbert and has half the interceptions (three) in the identical span. That’s the margin it appears.
So if the Chargers want to steal a win at dwelling, it seems to be like the primary purpose is to maintain their stat sheet clear, but when I haven’t talked about it but, that’s going to be a tough ask given the state of the offensive line.
2.) What’s going to Omarion Hampton’s workload seem like?
For the reason that starting of the season, Hampton’s workload has seen a gentle decline. This previous Sunday, he acquired the smallest snap share between him, Keaton Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal. Regardless of that, he was the most-efficient participant and arguably seemed the perfect when working, as properly.
Mike McDaniel advised reporters that Hampton’s workload lower was not due to the 2 fumbles he misplaced towards the Cardinals and Raiders. Nevertheless, I feel that’s simply him saving some face for the previous first-rounder. In any other case, I actually don’t assume it makes a lot sense given the effectivity numbers between the three.
It additionally looks like McDaniel is forcing the ball an excessive amount of to Mitchell, however that’s an entire different tangent to go on.
After having a stable sport towards the Seahawks and scoring his third landing of the season, I’m intrigued to see if McDaniel rewards him for ball safety and manufacturing in his smaller pattern measurement. The Broncos are presently permitting 142.8 yards on the bottom per sport. That’s twenty ninth within the NFL and ought to be a large inexperienced gentle for the Bolts to lean upon him this week. However then, as soon as once more, comes the tough actuality of the state of the offensive line.
3.) Can Chargers benefit from ravaged Broncos secondary?
The Chargers offense is catching an enormous break this week because the Broncos are greater than possible going into Sunday’s sport with out cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss. These aren’t simply their beginning cornerbacks, however two of the perfect younger corners in the complete league, together with the 2024 Defensive Participant of the 12 months within the NFL.
In most weeks, this may be a number of the best damage information you can hear popping out of the opposition’s camp. Nevertheless, can the Chargers even benefit from these accidents this week? Ladd McConkey has not practiced this week but. Rookie Brenen Thompson took a step again and sat out Thursday’s apply after being restricted on Wednesday. Quentin Johnston has logged two restricted periods and clearly isn’t one hundred pc.
That leaves Tre’ Harris as the present WR1 for the staff, however let’s be trustworthy, he was already that after Week 4 as a result of main the staff in each yards and receptions on high of being the one one who can keep wholesome week-to-week.
Previous to shedding Surtain and Moss this week, the Broncos had been already permitting 232.3 passing yards per sport this season which ranked twenty second within the league. Take out their high guys and the expectation is that this will probably be one of many best models to throw towards in Week 5.
However that leads me to a different query: With the Chargers probably beginning a number of rookies, will Herbert even have the time to seek out his receivers? Will it even matter that Surtain and Moss are out?
Seeing how unhealthy issues had been when the likes of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt had been nonetheless wholesome, I don’t know the way a lot positivity I’ve for this week.
