With the New York Giants hosting the Los Angeles Chargers this week we turn to SB Nation’s Bolts From The Blue for some insight into a team we generally don’t pay a lot of attention to. Michael Peterson answers our ‘5 questions’.
Ed: From a 30,000-foot view, what has been the key to the Chargers’ 3-0 start?
Michael: While Justin Herbert has been playing out of his mind to begin the season, it’s hard not to feel like the defense has been the biggest key to their 3-0 start. Their success in limiting opposing offenses to minimal points and short drives has allowed the Chargers offense to play with a lot less pressure than in recent years. At 23.3 points per game, the LA offense is ranked 15th in the NFL. They haven’t had to out-race opponents on the scoreboard and it’s made all the difference early on, especially against three divisional foes.
Ed: Most NFL analysts believe there is a Big 4 of NFL QBs — Mahomes, Jackson, Allen, Burrow. How close do you believe Justin Herbert is to making it a Big 5 What is that going to take?
Michael: I think Herbert has long been on that next tier of quarterbacks, but he’s been close for awhile. Those guys above him have done it with a better supporting cast, on both sides of the ball, more often than not. This year, it’s seemingly all coming together for Herbert in regards to having a good defense and a consecutive year in the same offense. As long as Herbert continues his hot start to the year and turns it into a legitimate MVP case by the end of the year, I believe he’ll finally make that leap into the highest tier of NFL QBs.
Ed: I know the Giants are a bedraggled NFL bottom-feeder. If, though, there was one Giant you take from New York and put into LA’s lineup, who would it be? Why?
Michael: I would take defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in a heartbeat. The Chargers haven’t had a premiere defensive tackle in a long, long time and despite getting the most out of reclamation projects under Jim Harbaugh, it would be absolutely amazing to see Sexy Dexy playing on the same line as Khalil Mack. Even though he’s off to a slow start in the sack category, there’s no doubt he’d unlock a new level to this defensive front.
Ed: How has Jim Harbaugh changed the Chargers? What is it about him that makes him able to succeed at stop after stop?
Michael: This is always an interesting question to get because there’s isn’t some shiny, glittery answer that you can pinpoint. From everything I’ve taken in over his first 21 games as head coach, he’s just a genuine football guy who doesn’t switch up no matter the circumstances. His postgame locker room speeches always begin with him letting the team know he’s proud of them. Then, he tells everyone to give high fives before they break out into singing “He’s a jolly good fellow.” This stuff may seem a bit cringe-worthy on the first glance, but there’s something about keeping it simple that has ingrained these things into the heart of the team. He knows his Xs and Os. He’s got a great coaching staff. After that, it’s all about how well he can get his players to buy in. Despite the lack of flash and modernity in his methodology, he’s got everyone linked at the hip.
Ed: If there is a path for the Giants to pull off an upset on Sunday, what is it?
Michael: I think the best way for the Giants to beat this Chargers team is not all that different from how they nearly beat the Cowboys in Week Two. If Jaxson Dart can find a quick connection with Malik Nabers on the deep ball, that’s fast way to demoralize the defense that hasn’t been keen on allowing explosive plays. If rookie Cam Skattebo can inflict his physicality and break a number of tackles in the run game, it’ll go a long way in showing his teammates they can hang with an undefeated team. I wouldn’t underestimate winning the mental battle at home and how that can help carry the team to a place they did not see within themselves ahead of the matchup.
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