Bold predictions for Chargers versus Seahawks preseason game

The Los Angeles Chargers face the Seattle Seahawks in their third preseason game. Here are three bold predictions for Saturday’s contest.

Yet another week of NFL preseason and another week of bold predictions for Chargers games. First, a quick recap of last week’s predictions before seeing the bold predictions for the Chargers’ home game against the Seahawks.

• Quarterbacks score more scrimmage touchdowns than passing touchdowns: Wrong
• Chargers offensive line only allows one sack: Right
• Both teams will combine for over 50 points: Wrong

The Chargers’ game against the Saints saw the first bold prediction of the season come true,  but the offensive line was in no way impressive. In fact, their performance was awful. Still, they only allowed one sack during the entire game.

There was no single rushing touchdown in the whole game. Three of the four scores came through the air, while another came on a punt return by Troymaine Pope. Taysom Hill accounted for two touchdowns, while Cardale Jones capped an impressive 98-yard drive with a throw to Andre Patton.

The game ended 19-17, which means I was short of the 50-point mark by 14 points. Still, this prediction wasn’t too far away, as the Saints turned the ball over twice inside 10 yards, and another time on the 26-yard line. Had two of those drives ended in a touchdown and a kick instead of a turnover, the game would have totaled exactly 50 points.

Without further ado, let’s get into the bold predictions for the third week of the preseason, as the Chargers host the the Seahawks.

The Chargers get their first win of the preseason.

Preseason wins hardly matter. The 2007 New England Patriots had a 2-2 record during the preseason before winning all 16 regular season games, while the 2008 Detroit Lions started the preseason 4-0 before losing all 16 games to be the worst team in history at the time.

It is not worrisome at all the Chargers have started 0-2, as they have rested most of their starters and possess one of the best teams on paper in the league. If they are one of the best teams, what makes this a bold prediction?

Philip Rivers will not suit up for the game, and Los Angeles will roll once more with the combination of Tyrod Taylor, Easton Stick and Cardale Jones. Most of the starters will be rested once more, while Seattle will play most of their starters.

The defense will face Russell Wilson for at least the first quarter, before he gives way to a familiar face: Geno Smith. Wilson is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, but his scoring opportunities will be limited and Stick and Jones will play a brilliant second half in their battle for a roster spot. The Chargers’ backups and third-stringers will take the first meaningless win of the season.

The offensive line will actually play well.

Last week, I went against all odds and predicted an almost clean slate for the Chargers’ struggling offensive line. They delivered, even if it wasn’t pretty, as they played a bad game in general. This week I’m taking it even further and predicting an impressive game against a talented and well-coached defensive front that includes proven veterans like Ziggy Ansah and a first-round rookie in L.J. Collier.

The Chargers will score a touchdown on a punt return, again.

They did it last week with a brilliant return by Pope. Punt return touchdowns don’t come too often, and the Chargers will face one of the top punters in the league in Michael Dickson. He came into the league last year as a rookie and had the second-highest punt average, while none of his punts were returned for touchdowns.

He was the first rookie punter to be voted to the Pro-Bowl since Dale Hatcher in 1985, and he earned first team All-Pro honors as well. It will be extremely difficult to achieve, but one of the Bolts’ electric returners will score a touchdown against the man who is nicknamed “Punter Jesus”.

Can these bold predictions come true? Look out for these predictions during Saturday’s game and come back for next week’s article to see how they fared.