As the LA Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, fans across the NFL got to see what many Chargers fans already knew; this is still one of the best and most versatile defenses in the league.
Now, as they head to face the revamped Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, Los Angeles's path to victory lies yet again in their defense in the red zone, holding the budding Raiders' offense out of the end zone and allowing their offense comfortable space in which to operate throughout the course of the game.
As an elite unit in the red zone last season, the Chargers' defense helped propel them to a wild card berth. Now, they must step up in yet another division matchup to lay the hammer down on their opponent.
The Chargers' red zone defense will be absolutely vital in Week 2
In the Chargers' victory over the Chiefs in São Paulo, Justin Herbert's arm and the team's offense as a whole was on full display as they put up three touchdowns and 318 passing yards on Steve Spagnuolo's perennially feared defensive unit.
However, their defense was also, in many ways, the stars of the night as they combined for three sacks, four QB hits and five tackles-for-loss, at times making Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City's offense look more flustered than they have in recent memory.
Now, facing the markedly less lethal Raiders offense, the team's defense will yet again need to be at the top of their game in order for Los Angeles to come out with a victory. The good news is that the signs are in their favor.
Last season, the Chargers held the league's second best opposing red zone TD% in the league, allowing opponents to score on only 45.45% of drives in which they came inside of the 20-yard line.
The Raiders, meanwhile, were the league's seventh-worst offense in the red zone last season, converting just 48.89% of their drives in the red zone into touchdowns.
This Las Vegas team, however, now has Geno Smith behind center: an entirely new picture compared to the Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell-led offense seen last season. Nevertheless, Smith, who was with the Seattle Seahawks last season, posted a flatly average red-zone TD% of 53.7%, placing him in immediate company with quarterbacks such as Mac Jones, Joe Flacco and Cooper Rush.
Last week against the New England Patriots Smith only threw one pass inside the red zone, and it remains to be seen just how competent this Las Vegas offense is this season.
Therefore, while the Raiders with standout tight end Brock Bowers at the center of their passing game will present a slightly different challenge than the Chiefs, keeping them out of the end zone will be the first step to a 2-0 start to the season for Los Angeles.