The Chargers are still searching for their first win of the season, but will have to travel to Seattle Sunday and take down the Super Bowl champs to do it.
Here's what Los Angeles needs to do on offense to sneak out with the win.
Connect the script
The Chargers offense has actually not looked as bad as their 30th ranking in EPA/play to open games this season, which suggests that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and the players on the field are capable, at least on some level. It's been after the opening script, around the third or fourth drive of the game, where things have fallen off a cliff. That seems to imply that LA is having trouble adjusting to what's working and what isn't and countering defensive adjustments. They'll need to dial that in against an elite
Seahawks unit.
Get a breakout game from Tre' Harris
Ladd McConkey (foot) is questionable Sunday, which runs the risk of completely torpedoing the Chargers' offense before LA even steps on the field. McConkey has been the only Chargers receiver who has consistently been productive, but Harris played his best game of the season last week and will need to step into a bigger role even if McConkey does play to prove that Los Angeles has multiple threats to be concerned with. The second-year receiver has been a great separator this season, which should lead to more opportunities. If the Chargers can get him to convert on them, LA might move the ball a surprising amount.
Convert gifted opportunities
The Chargers scored only 10 points off of 5 Bills turnovers last week, leading to a 24-16 loss that put LA in detestable company. Seattle turned the ball over 3 times against the Commanders last week, so Los Angeles' defense knows opportunities for a sudden change will be on the table. The offense just has to hold up their end of the bargain afterwards, converting those chances into points and getting into the end zone more consistently (the Chargers have scored only 5 touchdowns in 3 games this season).
Get help from the run game
It's foolish to expect the Chargers to break through with a game plan focused solely on the run game, because Seattle is the best run defense in the league and Los Angeles has been the third-worst rushing offense by EPA/rush. But performing against high-level defenses is why you take a running back in the first round, so getting Omarion Hampton going in the slightest would still be a huge boost to the Chargers offense. Maybe that boost comes from Keaton Mitchell, who was successful on 5 of his 8 runs last week in the most action he's taken in a Chargers uniform. LA has the highest run rate over expected in Justin Herbert's career thus far, however, so maybe less is more when it comes to the running game in its current state.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' offensive keys to victory against the Seahawks
