The Los Angeles Chargers are in a much different spot than many thought they would be heading into Week 13, with their matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders representing the first game in a stretch that will determine the ultimate outcome of their season.
While a struggling Raiders team will present, hopefully, one of the lesser challenges of the matchups they have upcoming, star edge rusher Maxx Crosby could quickly disrupt things for an injury-ravaged Chargers' offensive line, leaving Justin Herbert to fend for himself against one of the most dynamic sack-hunters in the league.
Even with the addition of Trevor Penning at left tackle, Los Angeles struggled mightily against Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker in their last appearance, and, given the way that Crosby is playing this season, there is potential for this week to be even worse.
The Chargers' offensive line needs to show some semblance of improvement in Week 13
Although Rashawn Slater had already gone down for the season by this point, the Chargers handled the Raiders rather handily in Week 2, winning 20-9 and relatively limiting the pressures that Herbert faced throughout the course of the game (although he was sacked twice).
Since that time, left tackle Joe Alt has gone down with a season-ending ankle injury, and the play of their interior linemen, including Mekhi Becton, Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson, has only deteriorated.
Against Jacksonville, the pressure was so constant that it stagnated Los Angeles's offense entirely. On the day, Herbert completed 10 of his 18 throws but only amassed 81 yards: a clear indication of how limited the team's offensive playbook was.
Therefore, it is certainly a concerning thought that Crosby is set to face this same offensive line in Week 13. Across the 12 career games he has played against the Chargers, he has amassed 20 QB hits and 6.5 sacks.
In short, even against a lackluster Raiders defense, things could get ugly rather quickly for Los Angeles if they fail to contain him.
While any hopes the team has at a miraculous Super Bowl run are likely dead given the brutal injury luck the Chargers have seen this season, there is clearly still a desire to compete and complete their push for the playoffs through their final six games.
This begins with not only providing enough protection for Herbert to get throws off and see plays develop but also keeping him out of harm's way as often as possible: a prospect that could become increasingly dubious as the Raiders come to town.