In my last article, I laid out three keys to victory for week six. To establish the run, win the turnover battle, and put pressure in the backfield. The Chargers accomplished one of these keys putting pressure on Russel Wilson most of the game. The Chargers were able to skate away with a victory in overtime,19 to 16 over the Broncos in primetime.
Here are my takeaways from the week six victory:
Dustin Hopkins Comes in Clutch:
DUSTIN HOPKINS WALKS IT OFF FOR THE CHARGERS IN OT⚡
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/H9gtrRDmlF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2022
Hopkins missed the week five matchup in Cleveland due to a quad injury. However, he was activated for this divisional matchup at home, pulling through an injury to play. You could see the pain in the kicker’s face after each kick holding that right quad.
Hopkins was perfect tonight scoring on all four field goal attempts from 37,31,35, and 39 yards respectively. He also nailed his extra point attempt on the loan touchdown run by Austin Ekeler. Hopkins was raised up and praised by his teammates after securing the victory on the 39-yard field goal in overtime. Head Coach Brandon Staley also awarded him a game ball in the locker room.
Offensive Play calling was very predictable:
Joe Lombardi’s play calling has been a sizeable weak point for the Charger’s offense. While they have one of the best and strongest arms lining up under center, Herbert’s longest pass tonight was 24 yards to Donald Parham. However, Parham got some of that for yards after the catch. Herbert did not complete another pass for over 20 yards.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70200489/1293521419.0.jpg "Victory at Home: Chargers Escape 19-16 in OT 1")
Coach Lombardi started off last season in a similar fashion, keeping sort of a leash on Justin Herbert early in the season. He was able to turn it around last year generating a 5000-yard passer out of the then second-year Quarterback. Lombardi needs to figure something out to make this offensive scheme less predictable and start being able to put teams away early.
Defense Put Pressure on Wilson:
The Charger’s defense was a huge reason that the Bolts were able to come away with the victory. They were able to put pressure on Russel Wilson on nearly every play in this game. Los Angeles was able to hit the Quarterback five times during this matchup and totaled seven tackles for loss.
Drue Tranquill was leading the Charger’s defense in this game, sacking the Quarterback on two of the team’s four sacks. He was also second in tackles with eight and got into the backfield often with two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.
Recap:
Even with poor offensive play, the Chargers were able to pull off a divisional win. They are now tied for first place in the division with both them and the Chiefs sitting at 4-2. This was a big win for Los Angeles, giving them a little more separation from the rest of the division. The Chargers start to make this a two-horse race for the division crown.
Los Angeles moves into a second straight home game against an unexpectedly difficult Seattle team. They will look to improve on their three-game win streak with another home victory heading into a bye week. The Chargers open as -6.5-point favorites against the 3-3 Seahawks according to FanDuel Sports. One bright spot heading into next week, Corey Linsley and Keenan Allen should be making returns.
Related: Embracing a New Identity is Key for Los Angeles Chargers Victory Over Broncos
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
