SEAHAWKS (3-3) at CHARGERS (4-2)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Ch. 11/98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 5
Notable injury designations: Chargers: WR Keenan Allen (questionable, hamstring), K Dustin Hopkins (out, hamstring), DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (questionable, ankle), RB Joshua Kelley (out, knee), WR Joshua Palmer (out, concussion), TE Donald Parham Jr. (out, concussion). Seahawks: CB Artie Burns (doubtful, groin), CB Isaiah Dunn (out, hamstring), WR Penny Hart (doubtful, hamstring), OL Gabe Jackson (doubtful, knee/hip), CB Sidney Jones IV (questionable, groin), WR Tyler Lockett (questionable, hamstring).
What’s at stake: A fourth consecutive victory would give the Chargers a serious jolt of confidence and momentum going into their bye week. There has been a degree of uncertainty surrounding the team despite its three-game winning streak and 4-2 record. Injuries to key players, including quarterback Justin Herbert (ribs), edge rusher Joey Bosa (groin) and left tackle Rashawn Slater (biceps), have cast doubts about their status as one of the AFC’s elite teams. Narrow victories over Houston, Cleveland and Denver added to the concerns. A strong showing and a solid victory would go a long way in ending the negativity – for two weeks, anyway.
Who’s better? The oddsmakers favor the Chargers for the fifth consecutive week. The Seahawks’ offense, directed by quarterback Geno Smith, has the potential to make explosive plays seem routine. Smith leads the NFL with a 73.4 completion percentage. Lockett and DK Metcalf are Smith’s top targets. Rookie running back Kenneth Walker had a career-high 97 yards rushing in a victory last week over the Arizona Cardinals. And then there’s the Seahawks’ defense, which isn’t nearly as formidable as what the Chargers’ faced last week against the Broncos. Seattle is giving up 27.2 points and 410.8 yards per game. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert should be able to exploit the Seahawks after throwing for modest totals of 228 yards against the Browns two weeks ago and 238 yards against the Broncos this past Monday.
Matchup to watch: Is this the week the Chargers’ running game returns to the form it displayed in victories over the Texans and Browns? Or were those aberrations and is their ground game more like what we witnessed against the Broncos? Austin Ekeler rushed for a career-high 173 yards against the Browns, but he had only 36 yards against the Broncos. The running game is important in setting a tone for the Chargers, who tend to rely a little too much on Herbert’s passing magic when they don’t establish the run early in games.
Chargers win if: Containment of the opposing quarterback is always an issue, and it will be again this week. Smith isn’t the same sort of threat Russell Wilson was last week to run and pass and run and pass, but he’s developed into quite a weapon for the Seahawks to start the season. Pressuring him, as the Chargers did against Wilson in the second half Monday, would aid their cause tremendously.
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Fantasy sleeper: OK, it might be strange to label Herbert a sleeper. But consider that he really hasn’t had a big passing game this season. Yes, he threw for three touchdowns in each of his first two games. Yes, he had 340 yards against the Texans and 334 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. This could be the game he really breaks out with some big numbers against a lackluster Seahawks defense.
Prediction: This one figures to be another slog, as Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of Monday’s 19-16 overtime win over the Broncos. The Chargers are still battered and bruised and no doubt looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation during their bye week. They still have plenty of talent, depth and experience to win their fourth in a row. Chargers 28, Seahawks 17.