The Chargers head into Sunday carrying the kind of pressure that comes with an 0-3 start. They’re already chasing the rest of the AFC West, and if they want to avoid digging a deeper hole, this is the kind of game that needs to swing their way against the Seattle Seahawks.
That makes the trenches and the passing game the places to keep your eyes trained. Three matchups stand out in particular.
The first battle is on the edge, where Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu will go after Seattle tackles Abraham Lucas and Charles Cross. Mack and Tuipulotu were disruptive last week against the Buffalo Bills, piling up 2.5 sacks, two TFLs and four quarterback hits between them.
Lucas and Cross answered on the other side by keeping quarterback Sam Darnold clean, allowing no sacks and giving him a strong pocket throughout the game. On Sunday, the question is simple: can the Chargers’ rush win again, or can Seattle’s tackles keep Darnold comfortable?
The other major test for Los Angeles comes in coverage, where the Chargers secondary will have to deal with Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He was a problem for the Washington Commanders in Week 3, finishing with 10 catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 14 targets.
The Chargers’ defensive backs, meanwhile, just put together a strong showing of their own, holding Josh Allen to 204 passing yards and seeing rookie safety Genesis Smith intercept him twice. Whether Los Angeles can slow down Smith-Njigba, or whether he takes over the afternoon, could shape the entire game.
The third matchup to watch is another line-versus-line showdown: Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater against Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence. Alt, Slater and the rest of the Chargers’ offensive line had a rough afternoon in Buffalo, where Justin Herbert was sacked twice and hit eight times.
Seattle’s edge duo also came off a strong performance, combining for one sack, three TFLs and six quarterback hits against the Commanders. If Alt and Slater can’t steady things, Williams and Lawrence have the kind of pass-rushing juice to make life miserable for Herbert and the Chargers offense.
Sunday gives Los Angeles a chance to answer some hard questions fast. These three matchups will go a long way toward deciding whether the Chargers can finally get moving or keep sliding.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers Just Called Out A Problem With Young Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers is seeing the game from a different angle now, and the longtime Chargers quarterback turned high school head coach says that shift has sharpened how he evaluates todays passers. In a recent podcast interview, Rivers talked about his coaching experience, his return to the NFL conversation, and the way quarterback play has changed since his own playing days, drawing on examples like Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes while also reflecting on his years backing up Drew Brees.
What stood out most in the conversation was Rivers take on younger quarterbacks and the learning curve they face once they get to the league. Having spent time working with them as a coach, he framed the issue through both old-school preparation and the realities of todays game, which makes his perspective especially relevant for a franchise that has long lived with quarterback scrutiny. The full point of his criticism was aimed less at talent than at a problem he sees in how young players are being brought along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans May Need To Brace For A Khalil Mack Decision
The Chargers rough start has already put some early-season pressure on the roster, and the next few weeks could determine whether this is just a bad opening stretch or the beginning of a bigger reset. With a 0-3 record, the team is at least inviting outside questions about whether it can stay in the playoff hunt long enough to justify standing pat at the trade deadline.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Khalil Mack, whose contract runs only one season and makes him the kind of veteran contender would monitor if Los Angeles slips further back. ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that if the Chargers are out of the race by deadline time, Mack could become a trade candidate for a team looking to upgrade its pass rush. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Week 4 Problem They Cant Ignore
Ladd McConkeys foot injury gave the Chargers an unwelcome complication this week, with the second-year receiver missing Thursday practice as Los Angeles starts turning its attention to Seattle. McConkey has quickly become one of the key pieces in the offense, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards, and his workload has made him central to how the Chargers want to move the ball.
Seattle is hardly the kind of opponent you want to face while sorting through uncertainty at receiver. The Seahawks bring a strong defense into the matchup, so the Chargers may need to be flexible if McConkey is limited or unavailable. For a team trying to keep its offense steady, his status is suddenly one of the most important developments to track heading into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]