Going into Thursay Night Football, the Los Angeles Chargers are hopeful they can right the ship after their only win, in the last month, coming over the Miami Dolphins. Fans are tired of what they've been seeing, injuries or no injuries.
It isn't hard to explain what's happened in Los Angeles, lately, but TNF analyst Kirk Herbstreit made sure to state the obvious in a recent spot on The Pat McAfee Show. When talking about the matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, Herbstreit had this to say about the Chargers:
"The Chargers started 3-0, they've lost 3 of their last 4 ... the Chargers are reeling...
"Sometimes, you're looking to get that bad taste out of your mouth and my sense is that's where the Chargers defense is," Herbstreit said in reference to the Bolts' defense coming off a contest where they gave upp 38 points to the Indianapolis Colts.
Chargers have a perfect opportunity to get the bad taste out of their mouths vs. Vikings
This isn't anything new. We've talked about it at length, this week. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has been through it for a few weeks now. After starting out the season with so much promise, his unit is, indeed, reeling like Herbstreit suggested.
The good news is, Los Angeles' defense gets to take on Vikings veteran quarterback Carson Wentz, who is typically good for a couple of giveaways each game. Last week against the Eagles, he tossed a pair of picks to the Philly defense.
At 4-3, the Chargers do have a great opportunity ahead of them. To be able to beat the Vikings and go to 5-3, they will then have a couple of extra days to get ready for a team that's in a much-worse state, the Tennessee Titans in Week 9.
If Minter, his defense and the Chargers' offense can do enough to win these two games and get to 6-3, I have a feeling this fan base is going to be far more confident going into the second half of the campaign. But, as Herbstreit alluded to, it starts on defense.
Take away the offensive line issues and the questions about that side of the ball, for a second. L.A. has to find a way to get the defensive side of the ball rolling with a bit of momentum. In their three losses, the Chargers defense has just one takeaway. That aspect must improve, period. If the Chargers are going to get that bad taste out of their mouths, it starts there.