With the NFL regular season finally here, fans around the world are full of optimism for their teams. It only takes one game to bring that optimism crumbling down.
The Los Angeles Chargers face off with their division rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, in Brazil on Friday night. LA enters the game as slight underdogs, but it should be a competitive matchup.
That is, if the interior of the Chargers' offensive line can hold up against Chris Jones. Fans know all too well how dominant Jones can be against weaker fronts. If he finds a blocker he can pick on, it could quickly derail the game.
Chargers' Week 1 performance hinges on Mekhi Becton
In 2024, Mekhi Becton was part of one of the best offensive lines in football. He revived his career after a rocky start in New York, helping the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl. His power in the run game was a big part of paving the way for Saquon Barkley's historic season.
But that was when he was sandwiched between two Pro Bowl-caliber linemen. It's a different story lining up next to Trey Pipkins III and Bradley Bozeman. Becton will have to shoulder more of the load up front if this Chargers' offensive line is going to be a strong unit this season.
He's probably not too thrilled about starting off the campaign by facing off with Chris Jones. Last time Jones played the Chargers, he had two sacks in a crucial Chiefs' win. Against a weaker LA front, he's more than capable of wrecking the game once again.
The Chiefs' superstar defensive tackle will likely line up in different spots throughout the game, but he'll seek out favorable matchups on clear passing downs. If Becton shows himself to be inconsistent as a pass protector, he'll get plenty of work against Jones.
While he might not thrive as a pass blocker, the Chargers' guard could still swing the game with his physicality. It's no secret that Jim Harbaugh wants to win games by running the ball. If rookie running back Omarion Hampton gets 25 carries in the opener, nobody will be surprised. The efficiency of those carries will come down to whether LA can win in the trenches.
Becton was signed to help them do just that. If he can, the Chargers could pull off an important upset to start their season on the right foot.