A fresh start and a clean slate, so much promise at the beginning of every NFL season no matter who you root for. Being a Chargers fan I’m pretty sure I’ve said “This year is our year” or things are going to be different this year every year. Each new season brings a new set of opponents and new hope for what lays ahead in the short NFL season. This year seems that things truly are going to be different.
One of the biggest offseason moves in the NFL this year was the Los Angeles Chargers hiring former San Diego Chargers quarterback and former Forty Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh. The hype this offseason was a loud roar compared to previous years, and rightfully so. Jim Harbaugh who throughout his NFL and collegiate career has a plus seven game differential when taking over a team.
Fast forward to last weekend. The Chargers take on their division rivals the Las Vegas Raiders for their home opener at Sofi stadium. The Chargers started off a little wonky and unimpressive offensively in the first half. Granted a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator it may take a few weeks to hit their stride. During the lackluster offense in the first half the bolstered defense really stepped up against the Raiders to keep the game competitive and close leading into the half.
In the second half is when we really started to see the potential of the Chargers. One of the biggest things in past years and coaches that the Chargers had been lacking was half time adjustments. Year after year seeing the Chargers have all this star power and talent, yet the individual directing the team didn’t know how to shift gears mid game and come at it from a different angle if the first half wasn’t working. Jim showed in his Chargers coaching debut that he not only has the capability of understanding what isn’t working but implementing a new direction to make sure the Bolts come away with the win.
J.K. Dobbins was an absolute beast for us in this game. Having the longest run by a Chargers running back in two years in his first game. Also, impressive and worth noting is he broke LT’s record for most yards by a Chargers RB in their debut. Ten carries for one hundred and thirty-five yards, his longest carry being sixty-one yards, and finding the endzone once while doing so. The RB who formerly played for the Baltimore Ravens is looking healthy and ready to put the team on his back.
Dicker the kicker was amazing as always with three for three on field goal attempts and one for one on PAT’s.
One thing that really stood out in this game was the run defense. holding down on four and one’s and only giving the Raiders seventy-one yards on the ground, the defensive men in the trenches had an answer for everything they tried to throw at us rushing wise. Also, having a forced fumble, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
Ladd McConkey beat out Quentin Johnston for most yards by just one yard with 39 reception yards. He had an incredible touchdown late in the game to seal the win where he juked off two different Raider defenders to make it into the endzone for the first time in the promising start to his NFL career.
The Chargers carry this win and momentum into week two of the NFL season as they head to North Carolina to face off with Bryce Young and the Panthers. I’ll be covering that game live in my first NFL road game, and I can tell you after looking at the forecast for North Carolina, There’s a storm coming and expect some lightning this Sunday afternoon.