Both of these teams are staring down the barrel of an 0-4 start after entering the season with high expectations.
The 1992 Chargers are the only team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting 0-4.
So… yeah… these two teams need to win this week to keep their seasons alive.
2 winless teams in desperate need of a Week 4 victory
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers played a great “Chargers” game last week. Despite going up by 10 in the first quarter, holding Josh Allen to 204 passing yards and forcing five turnovers, Los Angeles still managed to lose by eight and score just 16 points.
Honestly, it’s pretty awesome. It’s hard to do that.
I’ve talked in the past about how disappointed I am with this Chargers team. I feel like a father whose son has struck out three times in a row in his Little League baseball game.
Not angry, just disappointed.
This Chargers squad is just mediocre. And mediocre teams don’t always win in the NFL, or in the case of the Chargers, at all. They are 0-3 to start the year.
But you probably already know that because… you know… that’s the title of the article—never mind, let’s move on.
“Who’s on the Chargers’ schedule this week? They just played the Bills, so they’ve got to play somebody pretty easy, right?”
No?
They’re playing the Seattle Seahawks?
In Seattle?
…
Oh.
The Seahawks defense has been impressive this year, picking up where it left off last season. Although they gave up 24 points to Marcus Mariota and the Commanders last week, the numbers still indicate that Seattle’s defense is one of the best in the league.
The Seahawks lead in both yards allowed and yards per game and are second in EPA per game.
This Los Angeles offense doesn’t look good, and it will be its toughest test of the year.
And they will be without guard Kayode Awosika for the second week in a row and star receiver Ladd McConkey is in danger of missing this game as well.
“C’mon Ev, there are some reasons to be optimistic for this game.”
I mean, I guess.
The Seahawks are less effective against the pass, ranking eighth in EPA per pass, and their pressure rate is abysmal at 38.0%, which ranks 12th through three weeks.
So is it possible for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and this passing attack to succeed? Sure, but I’m not hopeful. I’m completely wound up having positive thoughts about this Chargers team. I cursed it!
The Chargers’ defense is fine, 15th in EPA per game and 17th in yards per play, but not effective enough to make up for the mediocrity of this offense.
They proved that on Sunday when the defense forced five turnovers and the offense scored just 16 points.
I hope this Chargers team isn’t looking at its schedule, but I’m not on the team and Jim Harbaugh isn’t there to yell at me, so I will!
After Seattle, they play the Broncos, then go back on the road to play the Chiefs. Then, after the bye, they have the Rams, Texans and Ravens.
That’s BRUTAL.
If the Chargers don’t win this game, this season could quickly derail.
Let’s see if the Chargers can avoid striking out for the fourth time. Because if they do, they’re walking home from the ballpark!
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