Chargers gamble with backups, playing for pride. Broncos aim to secure a playoff bye, fueling a high-stakes clash with everything to lose.
Here is this week's glancing through the team numbers to see if I can find a theme to the upcoming Chargers game.
This week's theme is unmistakeable but also the hardest (and most fun) one I've had to deal with all season.
Los Angeles Chargers strength: Nothing to lose
If the Chargers happen to win on Sunday, it is almost a sure thing that they would be right back in the same spot (literally, in Denver against the Broncos) the following week. That is maybe the worst outcome for the Chargers, especially if they revealed any part of their strategy in the first game that could be used against them in the second.
That's why Trey Lance, along with an as-yet-unknown number of Chargers backups, will be getting the start and playing the entire game. Does that mean Jim Harbaugh is going to jump in front of a potential win, doing something crazy like playing offense without a QB at all, if he senses one is coming? Of course not.
But, the Chargers coach is making sure that a win is as unlikely as it can be without actually forfeiting the game. Every is expecting the Chargers to lose. Nobody that is on the field will be a big enough star to dictate the playcall or the touches.
This is just a group of guys with nothing to lose and everything to prove, backed by some creative coaches that would love nothing more than to show that their success is just as much due to the scheme as it is the personnel. That's a potential recipe for a really great story.
Denver Broncos strength: Everything to lose
You'll notice, in the above section, that I made mention of the motivations of the Chargers players (on the field) and coaches. That's because the Broncos will absolutely be trying to win this game with everything they have.
A win guarantees the Broncos a bye week and prevents them from having to play a road game in the entirety of the NFL Playoffs. A loss likely loses both.
They've also been either the best or the 2nd best defense in the league this season, and I don't imagine they'd like to go into the playoffs wondering how they got torched by the likes of Trey Lance and Kimani Vidal. The Broncos and their fearsome run defense should be on top of their game to send a message.
Los Angeles Chargers weakness: Starters
I know, I know. This is basically the same as the Chargers' strength, just flipped on its head. Allow me to address that very fair criticism.
- We don't know what to expect from a lot of these players and we're not even sure which ones will or won't play, so it's all but impossible to me to know what the strength or weakness of the group would be beyond what a generic scouting report will say (Trey Lance runs better / throws worse than Justin Herbert)
- It is 100% their biggest weakness to be putting themselves at a known talent disadvantage.
Denver Broncos weakness: Turnovers
This section is here to give hope to anyone who things the Chargers could actually give the Broncos a game.
In their last 7 games, the Los Angeles Chargers have forced 15 turnovers on defense while giving away 7 on offense. They're also, unsurprisingly, gone 5-2 over that span.
In their last 7 games, the Denver Broncos have forced 5 turnovers on defense while giving away 5 on offense. They are 6-1 over that span.
In your head, you maybe can't comprehend a world where Trey Lance walks into Denver and is successful against this Broncos defense, but can you imagine one where the Chargers have 1 or 2 more turnovers than the Broncos and turn those into 7-10 points? Would that be enough to give them a shot at the win? Maybe.