Behind Enemy Lines: Chargers at Broncos
By Gustavo Kury
Predominantly Orange: “The Chargers are coming from placing last in the AFC West, what do you expect in this next season?”
Bolt Beat: “They need to make up for lost ground. After finishing 12-4 in 2018 and losing the division on a tiebreaker, the Chargers had a huge decline to 5-11 that can be attributed to bad play, injuries, Philip Rivers throwing the ball to the opposing team, and just bad luck. The team will definitely be better, and I expect them to finish at least 9-7 and show they are closer to being the 2018 playoff team than last year’s disappointment.”
Predominantly Orange: “How are you feeling about going against Melvin Gordon twice a year after his statement of wanting to play against the Chargers?”
Bolt Beat: “His antics have been nothing short of weird. Why does he hold a grudge to the team that offered him the best contract? Besides his saltiness, I love the guy and I will wish him the best in 14 games out of 16. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of getting his ‘revenge’ (for what?). Gordon is a talented and charismatic player, and will probably become a fan favorite in Denver. Despite what many Charger fans may say, the Broncos got a good one.”
Predominantly Orange: “Talk about the Chargers defense, it is expected to be one of the strongest after the key additions of Chris Harris Jr. and Linval Joseph.”
Bolt Beat: “The Chargers defense was sneaky good last year, but suffered injuries to key players and also had to be on the field a lot thanks to the 28 turnovers by the offense. I expect them to be a top 5 defense in the league, and that’s a conservative expectation. I’m obviously biased, but having Derwin James back for a full season, as well as the addition of star players like Joseph, Harris, and Murray, along with the uber-conservative Tyrod Taylor limiting the offense’s turnovers makes me very optimistic for this defense.”
Predominantly Orange: “Do you think Austin Ekeler can handle the backfield by himself?”
Bolt Beat: “He’s not gonna be by himself, but he’s certainly going to be the main man, and he can handle it. Ekeler is a baller, one of those players that you only need to see for one game to see what they’re made off. Justin Jackson’s patient but swift running style will be a great complement, and the team brought a bigger back in Joshua Kelley to help with short-yardage and goal-line situations. Ekeler wins in so many different ways and his mere presence on the field keeps the defense guessing. Ekeler’s efficiency is bound to go down with his volume increasing, but he’ll still have a very solid season behind an improved offensive line.”
It´s clear that Chargers fans are more than happy with the offseason they had. If all goes well, this draft may be remembered as the one that gave them a new face for their franchise. The Broncos and Chargers rivalry will only continue to get better and better. It´s a long path to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs, but both teams are surely on the right path.
Just as Faustino helped this article come together, I also collaborated on his piece for Bolt Beat, which can be found right here. Be sure to check it out.