Los Angeles Chargers: Why they’ll beat the Chiefs in Week 1

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking down the barrel of eight straight losses to their AFC West rivals. How can they pull out a win this Sunday?

There may not be anything more exciting than the feeling surrounding the first week of the NFL regular season, and the Los Angeles Chargers look to kick this year off with what could be their biggest test of the year.

Every week, two articles will be published that highlight the reasons why the Chargers will either win or lose against their next opponent. The Kansas City Chiefs are coming to town, and the Bolts need a win. Can they pull it off?

Here are a few reasons they just might.

Melvin Gordon and the offensive line

Don’t look at the scores. Grasp the bigger picture, and the fact that the Chargers dominate on offense when No. 28 gets his hands on the ball. In Week 3 of the 2017 season, the Bolts’ first-half offense was frequently stalled by a number of Philip Rivers interceptions.

Despite the end result of most of those drives, Gordon remained terrific: 5.57 yards per rush, five plays of 10 or more tackle-breaking yards and a touchdown. An injury kept him out of most of the second half, and the Chargers lost.

Flash forward to Week 15, and the Chargers once again deployed Gordon, this time in a better balance of both rushing and receiving. The Wisconsin product developed rapidly as a pass-catcher, and was utilized to the tune of 169 total yards and one touchdown on just 25 touches. Unfortunately, his hard effort was minimized by disastrous interceptions and fumbles that stalled promising drives.

So, how does Gordon, who has already played at a high level against the Chiefs in games prior, make this one a closer contest and possibly lead the team to a win? He dominates even more touches behind an upgraded offensive line.

Right guard Forrest Lamp will reportedly not begin the season as the starter, but that will soon change. For now, Gordon gets to play behind new Bolt and former Pro-Bowl center Mike Pouncey, a nasty and athletic tone-setter that most recently led the Chargers’ first-string offense (without Gordon) to a 7.0 yard per carry average against the New Orleans Saints.

Pouncey, along with improved left guard Dan Feeney and returning Pro-Bowl tackle Russell Okung, create a dangerous and aggressive rushing attack that will try and dominate a rush defense that ranked 25th in rushing yards per game in 2017.

If the Chargers commit to giving their franchise tailback (along with an elusive Austin Ekeler) more rushing opportunities and take the ball out of Rivers’ hands, they have a shot to win big on Sunday. Making work of his route running ability on top of his balance in the running game should help break the Kansas City curse once and for all.