Part 1 I know
Los Angeles Chargers T-Shirt , I know. I get it. These are always pretty futile exercises when it’s still this far until the start of the regular season. But
it’s the offseason and, well, without training camp news, I have to keep the
front page fresh and new until the real action starts.Over the next few weeks, I
will be breaking down the 16-game slate into four separate posts and give you
all my predictions on each matchup while offering my thoughts on why I believe
the Chargers should win or lose each contest.Again, take these for what they are
as there is plenty of time for things to change (or go completely wrong) before
the regular season gets underway.Let’s do this.9/9 Week 1 vs. Kansas City
ChiefsIf there is any team in the entire NFL that has the Chargers’ number, it’s
Andy Reid and the Chiefs. It’s almost laughable how the wheels seem to come off
every single time the Chargers take the field against this team.In 2017, Philip
Rivers through 10 interceptions. Not a bad total for a season, but he threw six
of them against the Chiefs’ secondary. Six interceptions across two games
against this one team. That’s just nuts. The craziest thing is how visibly
rattled Rivers becomes when he plays this team.Through most of the season,
Rivers played intelligently and efficiently. He was on top of his calls at the
line of scrimmage and didn’t risk the turning the ball over often, if at all.
However, when staring at the Kansas City defensive backfield, a switch seemed to
flip in Rivers that caused his inhibitions to lessen as he threw pass after pass
into questionable coverage.Luckily for PR17, his arch nemesis, cornerback Marcus
Peters
Los Angeles Chargers Hats , is no longer with the Chiefs. Peters was responsible for half of the interceptions that Rivers threw against Kansas City and, although he
is just one player on that defense, I have a feeling Rivers will have a much
easier time throwing against this defense without the Pro Bowl defender staring
right back at him.On the ground, the Chargers should be able to build on their
rushing attack that netted 4.0 yards per carry and a 46-186-2 stat line across
both games. Regardless how high of regards the majority of analysts hold
second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, I don’t think the gunslinger will have
what it takes to out-duel Philip Rivers in his first NFL start. I believe the
Chargers get their first victory against the Chiefs in over four years and the
2018 season starts off on a very high note.2018 Record: 1-09/16 Week 2 @ Buffalo
BillsUnless you currently don’t have a pulse, it’s impossible not to get a
little giddy and excited when you see the Bills on the schedule for this season.
I personally don’t think I enjoyed a game as much as last year’s matchup in a
very long time. Defensive dominance and offensive efficiency up and down the
field. The Bills didn’t take many steps forward regarding either side of the
ball. Josh Allen was selected as their quarterback of the future and Tremaine
Edmunds was picked to be a spark-plug on a defense that more often flailed than
fly.LeSean McCoy is as dangerous as ever. Unless the run defense takes a leap in
the right direction, expect Shady to break a run or two as they’ll look to lean
on him early, regardless of who is behind center.In the end, I don’t believe the
Bills have enough firepower to keep up with the Chargers’ offense and, while the
defense has some young talent, it won’t be enough to subdue all of the
playmakers on the Bolts.This will be a sound victory leading the Chargers to a
2-0 start to the year.2018 Record: 2-09/23 Week 3 @ Los Angeles RamsThe Rams
have done an amazing job this offseason of compiling stars from across the
league to add to their team which just came off a playoff appearance and an
excellent first season under head coach Sean McVay. Pro Bowl cornerbacks Aqib
Talib and Marcus Peters have been added to the secondary while defensive tackle
Ndamakung Suh gets paired with All-Pro Aaron Donald in the middle of the
defensive line.On paper, this team looks absolutely phenomenal. If anything,
they’re starting to look like the Golden State Warriors of the NFL.What worries
me the most is that the Rams got much better in two areas that are directly tied
to some of the major shortcomings of the Chargers.Their secondary brought in two
cornerbacks that have made life very hard for Philip Rivers in recent years.
Talib was a big part of the vaunted “No-Fly Zone” in Denver and the majority of
Peters’ career interceptions have come against the Chargers. I don’t like this
match-up one bit.With the presence of Suh and Donald along the defensive
interior, I’m not feeling too hot about the chances of success between the
tackles. The addition of Pouncey at center will help immensely as he has the
athletic ability to, maybe
Los Angeles Chargers Hoodie , keep up with the more elite defenders. On the bleaker side, Pouncey’s help will come from second-year left guard Dan Feeney and
highly-touted “medical redshirt” rookie Forrest Lamp to his right.I don’t know
about you but that’s a lot of inexperience trusted to handle two of the top
interior defenders in the entire NFL.When it’s all said and done, I just can’t
see them walking away victorious from this one. Unless the team plays out of
their minds, a la the Bills game last year, I believe McVay wins the first
regular season edition of the Battle For LA.2018 Record: 2-19/30 Week 4 vs. San
Francisco 49ersAfter finishing last year on a five-game winning streak, the
49ers look completely rejuvenated from the last several years of dwelling in
mediocrity. The addition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo seemed to ignite a fire
within the team and it’s subsequently transformed into a massive tidal wave of
lofty expectations heading into 2018.Jimmy G made the most of his young group of
skill players, relying on Marquise Goodwin as his WR1 while mixing in a healthy
dose of rookie pass-catchers. Tight end George Kittle and slot receiver Trent
Taylor became reliable targets over middle and in the redzone, taking pressure
off the new QB in high-pressure situations, i.e., the combacks against the
Titans towards the end of the season.The addition of center Weston Richburg and
2018 first-round selection Mike McGlinchey will help reinforce the offensive
line as the offense transition to a new backfield with Carlos Hyde now a
Cleveland Brown. I still expect Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram to flourish,
here.Defensively, the Niners boast a pair of young stars in linebacker Reuben
Foster and defensive lineman Arik Armstead. Former All-Pro cornerback Richard
Sherman is now the most veteran player on the defense and should help raise the
level of play in the secondary.Looking ahead to this match-up, I can see this
easily becoming a offensive shootout that will give the Bolts all the scares
they need on any given Sunday. Although the Chargers have the much more elite
defensive talent, I can’t undermine the genius that is Kyle Shanahan and his
offensive play-calling abilities.The Chargers get the Niners at “home” and,
regardless if that’s truly an advantage for them anymore
Customized Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys , I think the Chargers win this one on account of several big plays made by the defensive side of the ball.2018 Record:
3-1There you have it. The first four games in the books.I think there will be
some potential rough spots/trap games during the first quarter of the season but
I expect the Chargers to come out of the offseason with a renewed fire to build
upon their momentum from the prior season. If the team can kick the new year off
by getting out of the shadow of Kansas City, I believe big things will be in
store going forward.Chargers vs. Cardinals: Game Time, TV Schedule, Online
Streaming and more The NFL is back and the Los Angeles Chargers will open their
preseason in Glendale, Arizona as they travel to take on the new look Arizona
Cardinals. Tonight, we should get our first look at the Chargers 2018 NFL Draft
class, and also watch the beginning of some key positional battles: safety,
linebacker, running back, wide receiver, among others.Game timeKickoff is set
for Saturday, August 11, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. PT at University of Phoenix Stadium
in Glendale, Arizona.TV schedule and TV channelsThe game will be televised on
KABC-TV in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. Other affiliate stations that
will have the game around the country are KFMB-TV (San Diego)
www.authenticlosangeleschargers.com , KLAS (Las Vegas), KBAK/KBFX (Bakersfield), KGMB (Honolulu), KSWT (Yuma/Imperial
Valley), KMIR (Palm Springs), KGPE-TV (Fresno) and KTVX-TV (Salt Lake
City).Announcers: Play-by-play Spero Dedes, color analyst LaDainian Tomlinson,
sideline Hayley ElwoodOnline streamNFL Game Pass offers live audio and re-airs
after the game.DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket has expanded its online streaming
service. Verizon subscribers can watch games live with the NFL Mobile app
(subscription required, and usual TV blackout rules apply even
online).RadioChargers radio is on KFI-AM 640 and called by Matt Smith, analyst
Daniel Jeremiah, and sideline reporter Shannon Farren.The Spanish Broadcast is
carried by KFWB-AM 980 called by Mario Solis and Jorge Villanueva. OddsChargers
-13.5 | O/U 44.5All-time record: Chargers 9-4Most recent meeting: Chargers 17-18
vs Arizona (September 8, 2014)Enemy blog: Revenge of the Birds | Twitter:
@RevengeOfBirds| Facebook: Revenge of the BirdsBolts from the Blue on Twitter:
@BFTB_ChargersBolts from the Blue on Facebook
