Stampede Blue
The Colts return to the site of their only loss in the 2025 season thus far, this time to take on the AFC tenant of SoFi Stadium: the LA Chargers. Like their stadium-mates Rams, the Chargers represent a tough test for the Colts to further prove their legitimacy atop the NFL’s upper echelon. The Chargers are 3rd in the AFC heading into Week 7 at 4-2 in a 5 way tie with the Patriots, Bills, Jaguars, and Broncos (in that order). The Colts stand atop the AFC at 5-1, and only the Steelers stand in between the Week 7 opponents on the AFC rankings.
Can the Colts defeat the surging Chargers to maintain their lead in the AFC? Or will former Colts QB Jim Harbaugh in holding the reins as the Chargers Head Coach get some breathing room in a tight AFC playoff race?
The Chargers Offense has overcame a lot of obstacles but maintained being a strong unit. Injuries have hurt them up front and at running back. Left Tackle Rashawn Slater was out for the season before it even began and Joe Alt also missing several weeks with ankle injury. Linemen Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer have also been banged up recently. Promising rookie RB Omarion Hampton is on IR but will return later in the year, and starting back Najee Harris went down with a season ending Achilles tear.
And yet, the Chargers endure. Justin Herbert is still one of the better and more underrated QBs in the NFL, and the passing attack has relied heavily on targeting veteran Keenan Allen returning back to the team alongside 2024 star rookie Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston finally breaking out as a strong outside target. The rushing attack has shifted giving the workload to 2024 6th round pick Kimani Vidal after injuries to Harris and Hampton, and Vidal impressed in his first opportunity last week.
The Chargers have embodied next man up, and are moving the ball down the field very well and consistently. But miscues in the Red Zone have made them the worst team in the NFL at converting them into Touchdowns, and the Chargers have gone from having the 2nd fewest turnovers in a season ever in 2024 with 9 to having 8 already in 2025. Besides the injury bug, the Chargers have been their own worst enemy. With a talented QB under center and a strong coach building the team though, opponents shouldn’t underestimate this...
