Takeaways from an all-time Chargers’ rout vs. the Arizona Cardinals

3. Try to eliminate the slow starts

Despite the Chargers’ record this season, one thing that has hurt them has been slow starts.  They started down big to the Kansas CityChiefs and didn’t have enough time to come back, same was true with the Los Angeles Rams.

Even in some of their wins, the Chargers have started poorly. Rivers tossed a pick six vs. San Francisco on the opening drive, they were down a Touchdown to the Seattle Seahawks quickly, and the team had a poor first quarter vs. the Oakland Raiders. Sunday, the Chargers started down 10-0.

Slow starts to games as a whole haven’t doomed the Chargers so far, as indicated by their record. But once you get to some of the teams they play in the next few weeks, like Kansas City and Pittsburgh, or whoever they play in the playoffs should they make it there, the slow starts need to be avoided.

Coming back from 10-0 vs. the Cardinals is a much easier chore than doing it vs. the Steelers in Pittsburgh on a Sunday night would be.

4. Toss it up to Mike Williams and see what happens

I think it’s safe to say Mike Williams has probably become Rivers’ favorite red zone target. Seven of Rivers’ 26 touchdowns have gone to him. That’s more than Allen, Tyrell Williams or Melvin Gordon.

The height and athleticism Williams brings to the table presents a huge problem for defenses, especially when they also have to weigh covering him with other guys like Allen, Tyrell Williams, Antonio Gates, Virgil Green, Gordon and other Chargers’ touchdown threats.

After a shaky rookie season filled with injury and unfortunately never a big role in the offense, Mike Williams has burst onto the scene in the 2018 with a huge presence and a big role in the red zone. The Chargers will need him down the stretch.