Los Angeles Chargers have a huge advantage vs. the Houston Texans
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Chargers have a potential playoff preview against the Houston Texans in Week 3 with one big advantage that will guide the team.
The Los Angeles Chargers have the biggest test of the season thus far as the team is set to host the electric Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. While the Indianapolis Colts will be better than expected, the Texans are the most dangerous team that the Chargers have played thus far, mostly due to Watson.
For once, the Chargers might actually have home-field advantage as well. The Texans are not known to have this massive traveling fanbase and definitely don’t have a big fanbase in Los Angeles.
The problem is that a lot of Charger fans don’t go to the games in LA out of protest or because they are priced out, which means we could see a stadium that is a quarter empty on Sunday.
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Regardless, the Chargers are looking to move back above .500 after dropping an extremely disappointing loss in Week 2. Week 2 looked like the Chargers of old as they left 13 points on the board and Philip Rivers threw a costly interception into double coverage to end the game.
The Lions are a team that the Chargers should handily beat and it would feel a lot better being 2-0 than being 1-1. At least with a 2-0 record, you can still have a winning record if they lose this game. Now, the win seems even more important.
It is going to be a tough game either way but the Los Angeles Chargers do have one pretty distinct advantage that is going to massive in determining whether or not the Chargers can walk away victorious.
The advantage that the Chargers have is in the trenches, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Los Angeles has one of, if not the, best pass-rushes in the NFL and the Houston Texans have one of the shakiest offensive lines.
The Texans made it a point to revamp the offensive line this offseason but thus far it has not looked great. The rookies that were brought in are showing the suspected learning curves of being a rookie and left tackle Lamery Tunsil has underwhelmed and is currently limited in practice.
What makes the Chargers scary for the Texans is that they thrive in bringing outside pressure, meaning that more times than not the pocket will collapse, leaving Watson nowhere to scramble.
This will force Watson so step up in the pocket and deliver throws, which is certainly something he is capable of doing. However, by taking away the possibility of scrambling, the Chargers are taking away one of Watson’s best traits.
It also helps that the Texans do not have a great running game as the Chargers have been burned on the ground through two games this year. While there definitely is talent at the running back position, they do not have that elite back that will burn them on his own.
That, mixed with an underwhelming offensive line, is a recipe that should lead the Chargers to at least contain the running game, thus making Watson beat them.
Next. Chargers are perfect for Jalen Ramsey. dark
And again, Watson is absolutely good enough to take over the game and beat the Chargers. But when he has Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram breathing down his neck, that task becomes much more daunting.