Los Angeles Chargers: Three keys to get past the Baltimore Ravens

3. Keep the pressure on and avoid mental mistakes

One of the most baffling things about the Los Angeles Chargers is how the team can typically drive downfield with relative ease when the game is on the line but cannot do so early in the game. Even against teams like the Arizona Cardinals, the Chargers are prone to getting off to slow starts.

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To counteract that the team has adopted the strategy of going deep on one of the first plays of the drive, which is certainly by design. While this can catch the right team off guard, it is not as surprising when the Chargers do it almost every game. It got intercepted against the Chiefs and Ravens.

The Chargers need to come out and play the first offensive drive like it is a two-minute drive. Come out and run the out routes and crossing routes that can move the team upfield. Design the drive entirely beforehand and run a no-huddle offense with one or two audibles to call.

After that, the team can begin switching it up, running the check-down screens and running plays that can help the team keep the offense off the field and eat the clock. Beat the Ravens at their own game but do so with the pressure on.

The Chargers were so predictable offensively in the first matchup. That obviously cannot happen again.

And please, let’s not see the same mental mistakes. Keenan Allen had two huge penalties that negated two big gains (the offensive pass interference was a joke) and the rest of the team had eight total penalties that cost 69 yards.

Then the game ended on an uncharacteristic Antonio Gates fumble, which served as the perfect metaphor for the game.