The Chargers return from their bye week, looking to pick up their first win of the season as they face the Rams on Sunday afternoon.
Here are five key storylines ahead of the Week 8 matchup.
The search for their first win
The Chargers return from their Week 7 bye as the NFL's last winless team. After entering the season with high expectations following back-to-back 11-win years, head coach Jim Harbaugh's squad needs to put together a full 60-minute complementary game to avoid falling deeper into a historic hole.
Looking for an offensive spark
Hiring offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has not gone according to plan. The Chargers rank last in the NFL in scoring offense and last in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play (-0.24). Quarterback Justin Herbert is in the worst stretch of his NFL career, with a negative
touchdown-to-interception ratio and the lowest passer rating in his seven seasons. Harbaugh said they would look at everything on offense, including reducing the playbook volume. We will see on the field if the bye week gave the team a chance to strip down the scheme, cut pre-snap penalties, and simplify play-calling.
Offensive line reinforcements
Healthier trenches could finally give Herbert some breathing room after being sacked 21 times in the first six games. Tackle Joe Alt and guard Kayode Awosika returned to practice during the bye. This helps stabilize an injury-riddled offensive line that has needed to start multiple rookies up front.
Containing the Rams’ high-powered attack
The Rams rank near the top of the league in total offense and yards per game. Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads the NFL in passing yards (1,989) with 14 touchdowns. With wide receiver Davante Adams out, Puka Nacua is the clear focal point of the passing game. Nacua ranks third in the league in yards per game (97.0). Head coach Sean McVay has also leaned on the ground game, with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum producing efficiently. The Chargers’ defense, ranked near the top 10 in EPA per play, must disrupt timing, limit explosive plays, and avoid giving up long drives.
Defense needs to keep foot on the gas
With the November 10 trade deadline fast approaching, many expect the Chargers to be sellers. General manager Joe Hortiz faces difficult decisions about veteran assets. Another bad performance on Sunday could accelerate plans to trade away players like edge rusher Khalil Mack to contenders.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 5 Chargers storylines ahead of Week 8 game against Rams
