The Packers begin the second half of the schedule by finishing their tour of the AFC West with a Sunday afternoon contest against the Chargers in Los Angeles. Until the new palace (SoFi Stadium) that will host both the Rams and Chargers is finished, the Chargers play their home games at Dignity Health Sports Park. It's the 27,000 seat home to the L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer.
From everything I've heard this week, more than 20.000 of those seats will be filled by folks wearing green and gold. A home away from home field advantage if you will.
Hospitable surroundings notwithstanding, it won't be easy for the 7-1 Packers to exit California with a win against the 3-5 Chargers.
Here is how I see the matchups.
When the Packers have the ball.
L.A.'s defense has performed admirably, holding four opponents to 20 points or less but they are 2-2 in those games. They have lightning bolts (no pun intended) coming off the edge in pass rushers Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. They have a cornerback Green Bay gave up on who is still producing in Casey Hayward. The key for the Packers will be protecting those edge rushers with just their bookend tackles of David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. The less a running back or tight end are held in to chip or help, the more targets will be able to run routes. The way Aaron Rodgers is spreading the ball around of late, particularly with the use of Aaron Jones or Jamaal Williams out of the backfield or split wide, winning matchups can be found.
If Davante Adams returns Sunday, the Chargers will have to pay him attention. Out since the Philadelphia game with a turf toe injury, Adams returned to practice this week and was officially listed as questionable on Friday. Having Hayward follow him will open up possibilities elsewhere.
It's been a couple of weeks since the Packers were ground game heavy. Jones produced over a hundred yards with four touchdowns in Dallas and there might be opportunity here as well. The Chargers have given up 982 yards and six rushing touchdowns this season.
Bakhtiari told me this week time of possession has been one of the biggest keys to the Pack's 3-0 record on the road so far and if they keep Phillip Rivers and company on the sidelines, that mark could climb to 4-0.
When the Chargers have the ball.
Even 16 years in, Rivers still has an outstanding competitive fire. He is unafraid to take deep shots or squeeze the ball into tight coverage. That can get him in trouble with his seven interceptions. Rivers has four outstanding targets in wide receivers Keenan Allen (51 receptions, 617 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Mike Williams (26/419). Allen is the burner, Williams is the big body. Running back Austin Ekeler has flourished during the absence of former Wisconsin Badger Melvin Gordon who held out for the first month. He shares the team lead with 51 receptions for an NFL best five touchdown catches among backs. He's also scored three times on the ground. But getting yards on the ground has bogged down the L.A. offense to the point Head Coach Anthony Lynn fired his offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt this week. Quarterbacks coach Shane Steichen will take over the play calling duties. L.A. averages just 69.5 rushing yards a game.
The Green Bay defense will still focus on stuffing that run game behind a sub-standard offensive line. Making the Chargers one dimensional will have them play with that competitive fire of Rivers but coordinator Mike Pettine will dial up rush packages that will stress the protection.
Special teams got special attention this week too as Darrius Shepherd was let go (later brought back to the practice squad) in favor of Tremon Smith to handle returns. Smith was claimed off waivers from Kansas City when the season began after putting up good numbers on kickoff returns last year. Now he'll be asked to field punts as well. The Packers have incredibly lost 8 yards on punt returns through the first 8 weeks. Teams are almost mocking the kickoff return unit too, hitting high short kickoffs and betting the Green Bay return game can get the ball past the touchback threshhold of the 25. It's worked so far but Smith is anxious to foil that strategy.
Enthusiastic supporters on the road could help keep Green Bay's energy level up as the game proceeds. The Chargers still believe they can get the season turned around and compete in the west with five division games remaining but I think the Packers will, as they have so far all year, find another way to win.
I'll take the Pack in an entertaining afternoon on the soccer pitch 31-27.
