LA Chargers: 3 Keys to avoiding a close game vs Eagles in Week 9
By Josie Rohach
1. Let Justin Herbert loose for LA
Things are a bit puzzling for Justin Herbert in Los Angeles. Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi seem to have taken the reins from his hands on the offense lately and opted to keep the passing game limited to short, easy throws.
That regression is triggering a lot of questions. Why not let Herbert do what he does best and air it out? Why not trust the young QB who has proven his ability to make good decisions and give him more flexibility to make plays?
If the Chargers really want a dominant win here, they have to answer these questions. Last week was especially troubling on first-downs, where the Bolts dropped below a five-yard average per first-down attempt. That doesn't sound terrible at first, but this explosive offense was formerly averaging 6.6 yards on first-down.
To say the least, the play calling has been too conservative for the talent on this offense. Herbert's ability to sling the ball is what makes him a threat, and now is not the time to cool him down. The Eagles secondary isn't anything special, but they are allowing the eighth fewest passing yards in the league and the fewest yards per completion.
Next. Potential waiver targets following the deadline. dark
To win this game, Herbert needs to be allowed to put those stats to the test. A few big yardage plays could break this game open for LA, and might be the most important piece to execute on offense to boost the Chargers to a bounce-back victory.