Chargers toughest player matchups throughout 2019
By Tyler Schoon
Chargers vs Vikings: Secondary covering Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs
To be fair, this all could collapse with Kirk Cousins operating at quarterback during a prime time game, in which he goes from stellar stat-padder to contract bust in mere minutes. Still, this game features arguably one of the top three duos in the NFL: Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.
Oh, and Diggs and Thielen are pretty good too.
That duo posted an impressive 215 catches for 2,394 yards and 18 receiving touchdowns last season, making them the first Vikings duo since Randy Moss and Cris Carter to go over 1,000 yards individually.
Casey Hayward is still a good corner for the Chargers, but gave up 32 receptions in 2018, which is tied for 77th in the league last year. He’ll cover one of them, but the other duty falls to either down-2018-and-previously-injured Trevor Williams or the inexperienced Michael Davis. Can either hang around for four quarters? Last season in Pittsburgh, the Chargers’ secondary gave up 16 catches, 203 yards, and a touchdown to Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster with Hayward and Davis as the starting corners, nearly losing the game in the first half before clamping down in the second.
Chargers vs Chiefs: Secondary containing Tyreek Hill
The last matchup went well for the Chargers, and it appeared as if a combination of safeties did enough to slow down one of the best receivers in the league. However, Hill’s last four games against Los Angeles have netted him nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating what a consistent threat he is to this team. That does not include his return ability, where just last year the speedster took a punt 91 yards for a touchdown against the Chargers.
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It appears as if the Chargers will see Hill this year after all, in both contests, with the NFL opting to not punish him following an investigation of his case. With Sammy Watkins projected to take more attention away from Hill, and a threatening combination of Travis Kelce and Damien Williams for Patrick Mahomes to use, No. 10 may be more dangerous than ever.