The Los Angeles Chargers are playing host to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday for a Week 8 matchup.
The Bolts desperately need to win this game in order to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Here are the biggest storylines ahead of the Week 8 matchup between the Chargers and Bears.
Russell Okung returns
The Chargers have been without Okung for the past few months, but after being activated on Saturday, he will make his season debut tomorrow.
It’s been quite some time since Okung has been on the playing field, so they are going to be conservative with him. Coach Anthony Lynn said that Trent Scott will get the majority of the reps and Okung will work his way back in.
Facing a prolific edge rusher in Bears’ Khalil Mack, they may need Okung longer than they’re expecting, especially if Scott can’t hold up against him tomorrow.
Preparing for the absence of Keenan Allen
Allen is questionable for Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He did not practice on Thursday or Friday because of it, drawing some reason for concern. Even if he plays, it’s unlikely that he will be 100 percent.
Quarterback Philip Rivers will be relying on Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler to step up as his main targets. All three have been red hot the past couple of the games, but they will be facing one of the toughest secondaries yet.
Can the Chargers take advantage of Bears’ offensive struggles?
The Bears’ offense has not been clicking the past few weeks. From quarterback Mitchell Trubisky struggling to get into a groove to the running game being ignored completely, Chicago hasn’t been as efficient.
Los Angeles has had the opportunity to take advantage of lackluster offenses the past three games, but they haven’t been able to. From the lack of pressure to not being able to stop the run, they can’t catch a break.
If L.A. wishes to end their three-game losing streak, they need to really overcome the troubles that have been hindering them from coming out as victorious.
Will Melvin Gordon bounce back?
When Gordon returned to the starting lineup, many thought that it would give the offense an extra boost, but that hasn’t been the case. In his last three games, he’s rushed for just 81 yards on 36 carries (2.2 yards per carry).
Gordon is trying to move on from one of the biggest blunders of his career, which occurred last weekend when he fumbled the game-winning touchdown on the goal line.
If the Chargers are going to continue to roll with Gordon this season, he needs to have a big game tomorrow against a Bears rush defense that ranks near the top-10.
