The Chargers can get closer to clinching a playoff berth against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Currently 8-5, locking down a winning record this early in the season would be a huge statement after last year’s 5-12 record.
Thursday night’s matchup against the Broncos will be the biggest game of the season regarding playoff implications, but getting another win under their belt would be a great start. Of course, the Buccaneers aren’t a team that would take a loss without putting up a strong fight. They’ve cooled down, but Tampa is still sitting at the top of their division and they know they need to close out the NFC South if they want to make the playoffs.
This Sunday, the big key for the Chargers is that Justin Herbert plays like he is healthy. Herbert suffered a sprained left ankle in last week’s loss to the Chiefs. Herbert didn’t practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday due to the injury. Throughout his career, Herbert has played through injury, and it has always affected his play.
Looking at this season alone, Herbert suffered a plantar fascia injury and a sprained right ankle, and both have clearly affected how he plays. When he got healthy, he used his legs much more and defenses found it impossible to stop him. However, Herbert without his legs is a much easier quarterback to stop.
The other goal Greg Roman needs to make for Justin Herbert this week is that he doesn’t need to play Superman on Sunday. For too much of his career, Herbert had to put up superhuman stat lines to give his team a chance at a win. With a good run game, he’s had to do that less than ever this year. However, with JK Dobbins out, that hasn’t been the case. Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins haven’t been enough to establish a strong run game, and it has caused more weight to be put on Herbert’s shoulders. It’s going to be a challenge to take down a solid team like the Bucs while relying on an injured quarterback.
Herbert is not the only Charger dealing with injury. His top target, Ladd McConkey, is questionable with knee and shoulder injuries. Ladd’s absence would be made very clear in this Chargers offense. The passing offense is essentially nonexistent without McConkey. Whatever is left of the passing game without the rookie goes away with TE Will Dissly ruled out against Tampa Bay.
Herbert’s top targets on Sunday (if McConkey is out) will be Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark, and Stone Smartt. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but only time will tell how things shake out.
The Buccaneers offense could also be missing some offensive weapons. RB Bucky Irving is questionable to play. Irving has been one of the better rookies in his draft class, and Rachaad White would end up taking the vast majority of the snaps on Sunday in his absence. That would take away from the two-dimensional run game the Bucs have, although Irving hasn’t yet been ruled out. WR Sterling Shepard is also questionable, which would be a decent hit to the Buccaneers passing game. These injuries aren’t as substantial to the offense as the Chargers’ injuries, but they are still worth noting as they would change the dynamic of the game.
Without a doubt, the Chargers have to game plan for Baker Mayfield. Baker is having another solid year, and he is the reason the Buccaneers are where they are now. He can air it out and be shifty when he wants to be. The connection with Mike Evans is one for the secondary to watch. It’s unclear who will get the matchup on Evans, but the Chargers have good options.
Kristian Fulton, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still could each get a few good reps against Evans. TE Cade Otton is also a threat. Otton has had one of the better seasons this year at his position, and it will be a big matchup for Derwin James, Tony Jefferson, and the rest of the secondary. If the Bolts can take Otton out of the game and minimize Mike Evans’ impact to an extent, they will be in a great position to win this one.