Tag: 2019 Chargers Week 1 preview

BROADCAST INFORMATION

• Sunday, Sept. 8, at 4:05 p.m. ET
• Carson, Calif.; Dignity Health Sports Park
• TV: CBS — Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Trent Green (color) and Melanie Collins (sideline)ALL-TIME SERIESATION

ALL TIME SERIES

• Chargers lead, 16-10 (Colts are 1-2 in the playoffs). The Chargers have won three of the last four dating back to 2009.
• Last game — Week 3 of 2016. Colts won, 26-22.

COACHING STAFF

Colts:

• HC Frank Reich
• OC Nick Sirianni
• DC Matt Eberflus
• STC Bubba Ventrone

Chargers:

• HC Anthony Lynn
• OC Ken Whisenhunt
• DC Gus Bradley
• STC George Stewart

INJURY UPDATE

Colts:

• OUT — DE Jabaal Sheard (knee), RB Jonathan Williams (rib)
• QUESTIONABLE — DE Kemoko Turay (neck), RB Jordan Wilkins (ankle)

Chargers:

• OUT — CB Trevor Williams (quad)
• DOUBTFUL — LB Jatavis Brown (ankle), WR Geremy Davis (hamstring), S Roderic Teamer (hamstring)
• QUESTIONABLE — K Michael Badgley (groin), LB Denzel Perryman (ankle), LB Drue Tranquill (back)

STORYLINES/THINGS TO WATCH

• Capitalize On Your Advantages — The Colts catch a break in this matchup with a few major players being out for the Chargers. Starting running back Melvin Gordon III has not yet reported to the team because of a contract dispute, starting left tackle Russell Okung is on the Non-Football Illness List after reportedly suffering from a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots in the offseason, and All-Pro safety Derwin James is on Injured Reserve due to a foot injury. Los Angeles has capable players stepping up in those roles, but there are now areas where the Colts have clear advantages in certain matchups. If the Colts can capitalize on those, especially at left tackle, then they can make things incredibly difficult for the Chargers.
• Speed, Speed, Speed — In part what made the Colts’ 2018 defense at times so effective (especially against the run) was its team speed. After adding even more speed this offseason with guys like Ben Banogu, Bobby Okereke, E.J. Speed and Marvell Tell III, will we see the defense’s evolution continue into an overwhelming unit that offenses just can’t get around?
• Brissett’s Shiny, New Toys — Jacoby Brissett takes over as the starting quarterback and gets some dangerous new weapons in the process. Receivers Parris Campbell and Devin Funchess join an already talented group of pass-catchers, as does Deon Cain who missed his rookie season in 2018 with an ACL injury. In an offense that spreads the ball around and takes advantage of matchups, what will we see from these new cogs in the Colts’ offensive machine?
• Picking Up Where The Colts Left Off — The Colts got off to a rough start in 2018, starting 1-5 before turning things around and earning a Wild Card spot in the playoffs with a 10-6 record. Will they pick up where they left off in the 2018 season on a high note, and can they avoid self-inflicted wounds in an early-season loss?
• Immediate Barometer Game For Colts — The Colts get a “how good are you?” game right away in this matchup, as do the Chargers. As we saw from last year, your performance in Week 1 far from determines who you will be as a team throughout the season, but the Colts could put the league on notice early with a strong performance against one of its most reputable teams.

INTRIGUING MATCHUPS

• Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Chargers CB Casey Hayward Jr. — This matchup pits one of the league’s top receivers against one of its top corners, and it’s a chess match where both players are capable of moving around the lineup. Hilton in the slot against Desmond King II will also be one to watch, as King is already established as one of the NFL’s top nickel defenders. Hilton did most of his 174-yard damage against Jason Verrett in the 2016 matchup, so it may be wise to make sure Hayward Jr. and King II are on him most of the time in this one.
• Colts OTs Anthony Castonzo/Braden Smith vs. Chargers DEs Melvin Ingram/Joey Bosa — This is an incredibly tall order for the Colts’ tackles, but the same can be said for their counterparts. This offseason Castonzo said he physically feels as good as he ever has during his time in the NFL, and Smith should naturally progress going into his second season as a starting right tackle. This was also be his first offseason training strictly as a tackle.
• Colts DT Denico Autry vs. Chargers C Mike Pouncey — Being one of the league’s top centers, the Chargers gave Pouncey a one-year extension this week to ensure they have his services through next season. He gets to continue proving his worth right off the bat against Autry, a defensive tackle who totaled 7.0 sacks in the second half of last season.
• Colts LB Darius Leonard vs. Chargers TE Hunter Henry — Henry will likely see several different matchups against the Colts defense, but one that makes a lot of sense on short to intermediate routes would be against Leonard, the league’s reigning tackle king. Leonard had some really nice moments in the pass game as a rookie in 2018, so this is an attractive matchup.
• Colts CBs Kenny Moore II/Pierre Desir vs. Chargers WRs Keenan Allen/Mike Williams — Moore II against Allen will be one to keep your eyes glued to the entire day. Both players move around from the boundary and into the slot, so Moore II seems likely to be on Allen throughout this contest. While Allen is one of the NFL’s premier receivers and is a technician as a route runner, he’ll have one of its budding slot defenders on him in Moore II. Meanwhile, Desir (6-1, 192) vs. Williams (6-4, 220) will be the size-vs.-size matchup in which we’ve seen Desir have success before against similarly-framed receivers.

PROJECTED WEATHER

• Sunny, 10% chance of precipitation, temperature in the high-70s°F, wind from the SSW at 13 mph.

REFEREE ASSIGNMENT

• Head referee: Shawn Smith (5 years). Click here to see all referee assignments for Week 1.

BETTING LINE

• Favorite: Chargers (-6.5)
• Over/Under: 44.5