Chargers: The formula to beat the Packers in Week 9
After getting back in the win column vs. the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Chargers play easily their toughest opponent at the midpoint of the season-the Green Bay Packers.
It’s an uphill climb to a Chargers victory, but what are some of the ways the Chargers can pull the upset in Los Angeles?
The Chargers salvaged their October last week with a last-second win over the Bears following Eddy Piñeiro‘s missed field goal attempt. Shockingly, even after the rough month for the team, the Chargers only find themselves two games out of the Wild Card, as well as just two games out of the division lead. If the Chargers want in on the playoffs, the momentum has to keep going. The team will be strong underdogs to the 7-1 Packers, but here’s a potential formula to beating them.
Step 1: A revitalized offensive scheme under Shane Steichen
The offense struggled mightily under Ken Whisenhunt in 2019. There’s no way around it. Anthony Lynn made the right decision in relieving him of his duties. What happens next and how the Chargers adjust the scheme under Steichen will ultimately be more important.
None of us really will know what a Steichen-Lynn offense will look like until Sunday. However, there’s a couple of things they can’t do. Melvin Gordon‘s role has to be diminished in this offense. Running him up the gut on first and second down just can’t happen with the 2.5 yards per attempt he’s putting up.
In addition, there has to be more of a role for someone like Austin Ekeler, who is a sparkplug for the offense whenever he comes in.
Steichen also has to do a better job at getting receivers that aren’t Ekeler, Keenan Allen or Hunter Henry, involved.
Mike Williams may be the biggest key to getting the offense unlocked and opening up the field himself through the deep ball. The Chargers need a big-play threat who isn’t predictable, and Williams fits that mold.
Injuries have ravaged the receiving group to some extent, but even just getting a few passing attempts a game to the group of Jason Moore, Andre Patton, or Virgil Green can keep defenses on their heels so they don’t instantly put Allen in triple coverage.