The Los Angeles Chargers are playing host to the Green Bay Packers at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday for a Week 9 battle.
In order to keep their playoff hopes alive and show they’re capable of turning things around after an underwhelming 3-5 win, the Chargers need to pull off the upset against a red hot Packers team.
Here are the three biggest storylines ahead of the Week 9 matchup between Los Angeles and Green Bay.
New guy calling the shots
In a surprising yet necessary fashion, the Chargers let go of offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt earlier this week. Replacing him will be quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen, marking the first time that he’s been in charge of calling the plays.
With no experience in a coordinator position, we haven’t been able to justify what the new offense is going to look like. But at media availability on Thursday, Steichen made it clear that he wants to keep it from being unbalanced, which has been the case since the start of the season.
Los Angeles has relied solely on the passing game and because of it, the team has yet to surpass 40 rushing yards in each of the past four games. They will look to get that going with Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson, who should be ready to return after a calf injury.
Along with that, they will be implementing a faster tempo, no-huddle offense to establish a rhythm and flow. Having red-zone efficiency, a high first-down success rate and being aggressive will be key moving forward.
Erasing the Aaron’s
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Aaron Jones are easily one of the league’s most prolific offensive tandems. In order for the Chargers to keep pace with the Packers they will need to hone in on these two players.
By no surprise, Rodgers is playing at an elite level and is on his way to putting up career-high numbers. He continues to do it with pinpoint accuracy, even under duress and taking care of the ball and not allowing turnovers. Pressure and tight coverage will be key to limit Rodgers.
Meanwhile, Jones has been a pleasant surprise this season. He leads the league with 11 total touchdowns and under new coach Matt LaFleur, he’s been a threat not only on the ground, but in the passing game. In eight games under LaFleur, Jones has 34 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chargers linebackers will have to be sharp at all times, whether it be attempting to tackle him in open space or covering him when he’s lined up out wide. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if they resort to one of the defensive backs to cover him, given the coverage struggles from the LBs.
Welcome back, Michael
Last weekend, offensive tackle Russell Okung made his season debut. This weekend will mark kicker Michael Badgley’s season debut.
Badgley participated in the team’s three practices last week leading up into the Week 8 matchup against the Bears, but the coaching ultimately decided to make him inactive.
Earlier this week, Los Angeles released kicker Chase McLaughlin, signifying that Badgley would be ready to resume his starting duties after missing the first eight weeks with a groin injury.
Badgley was nearly flawless a season ago, making 15-of-16 field goal attempts and 27-of-28 extra point attempts.
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