Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers and Raiders cap off the entire Week Two slate as they play the second part of Monday night’s double-header. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., so if you’re not in that time zone, you’re bound for a late night.
This matchup also brings together Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll for the first time since they were both coaches in the NFC West duking it out with the Niners and Seahawks. Both coaches have similar offensive philosophies and they both own some of the best personality in the entire league. Everyone will be watching this game which means it’s a great time for the Chargers to take yet another step towards winning the AFC West.
However, you can’t count out the Raiders on their home turf. It’s going to be tough, no matter what that final score reads.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a good one!
Alright, let’s go ahead and check out my three storylines I’ll be watching this week when the Bolts take the field in Las Vegas.
This is the first of what should be many career matchups between Hampton and Jeanty, both of whom were taken in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. Jeanty was the generational prospect taken sixth overall by Las Vegas while Hampton was the close second behind him in the latest draft class. He obviously ended up in LA with the 22nd pick.
In each of their first real NFL games, both backs struggled to light up the stat sheet. While Jeanty did find the end zone, he posted just 38 yards on 19 carries (2.0 yards per carry). As for Hampton, he took 15 carries for 48 yards (3.2 YPC) but did not record a score.
Both of these teams passed their way to victory in Week One, but we all know each of these head coaches love to run the rock. I would be shocked if at least one of — if not both — Hampton or Jeanty greatly improved on their recent performances.
If I had to guess, I’m going with Hampton as the one with the higher chance of popping off. Joe Alt knows how to handle Maxx Crosby and overall the front five of the Chargers looked better than their Raiders counterpart. Las Vegas averaged just 2.3 yards per carry as a team. The Chargers defense stifled the Chiefs on the ground and I expect them to do the same against another AFC West opponent.
As of Thursday afternoon, Bowers was a non-participant in the Raiders’ first practice of the week with a knee injury he sustained against the Patriots. That’s a good thing for the Chargers, but anything could happen with two more practices to go before final reports are due.
When he was healthy, Bowers picked up right where he...
