Tag: Chargers Week 2

Watch: Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr. gets first career NFL interception

The Chargers’ second-round pick is officially in the interception category.

One of the reasons why the Chargers drafted cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was because of his ability to always be around the football.

Samuel showed that in the first quarter of the Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys, as the rookie picked off quarterback Dak Prescott on what appeared to be miscommunication with wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Cooper was running a double move but the ball was thrown behind him, and Samuel capitalized.

Check it out:

Prediction for Chargers vs. Cowboys, Week 2

Chargers Wire offers its weekly game prediction.

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to face off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1:25 p.m. PT.

The Chargers are coming off a Week 1 win after outlasting Washington Football Team’s dominant defense with a stellar performance from quarterback Justin Herbert, who finished 31-of-47 passing for 337 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys opened up the season against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After going back and forth in an offensive duel, QB Tom Brady engineered yet another game-winning drive in the final minutes to seal the deal.

Dallas enters this game with key contributors along the defensive line, Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory, out. It’s a huge blow considering generating pressure is vital to slowing Herbert and company, especially with a revamped offensive line that dominated last weekend.

Speaking of high-powered offenses, the Cowboys have their own with Dak Prescott, who threw for 403 yards (second-most in Week 1) and three touchdowns against a really good Buccaneers defense.

While the majority of their top skill players are intact, with the exception of wide receiver the Michael Gallup, the team will be without starting right tackle La’el Collins. This is a recipe for a monstrous game for Joey Bosa, who can make a huge impact on this contest.

Ultimately, the defense will force two turnovers and after throwing four touchdown passes, Herbert leads L.A. to victory in front of fans for the first time in a regular season game at SoFi Stadium, 31-21.

6 key things to know about Chargers’ Week 2 opponent: Cowboys

Highlighting important things to know about the Chargers’ opponent ahead of Week 2.

The Chargers will be playing their first regular season game in front of fans at SoFi Stadium against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1:25 p.m. PT.

Here are six key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup:

Dak is back

After suffering a season-ending ankle injury last season, there were still some questioning whether or not quarterback Dak Prescott was actually ready to go in Week 1. Facing a Buccaneers defense that is one of the best in the league, Prescott dispelled that narrative by completing 42 of 58 passes for 403 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception.

Two’s company

The Cowboys boasted one of the best wide receiver trios in the league, but it is now only a duo after Michael Gallup suffered an ankle injury that’ll keep him sidelined for 3-5 weeks. Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb, however, can still pose a problem for the Chargers’ secondary. In the season opener, Cooper caught 13 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown, while Lamb caught seven of his career-high 15 targets for 104 yards and a score.

Questions surrounding the run game

Even though the Cowboys had a lot of success through the air last week against Tampa Bay, concerns arose with running back Ezekiel Elliott’s lack of production output. Elliott had 11 carries — the second-lowest total of his career — for only 33 yards. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore made it clear that the reason why Elliott was a non-factor was because of the Buccaneers’ strong run defense. Facing a Chargers defense that allowed 4.7 yards per attempt and 126 rushing yards against Washington last Sunday coupled with the return of guard Zack Martin, Elliott could indeed be fed.

Missing pieces up front

Dallas will be without two key trench players on both sides of the ball, with those being tackle La’el Collins and edge defender Randy Gregory. Collins was suspended five games for violations surrounding the substance abuse policy. With the Cowboys expected to start second-year tackle Terence Steele in place of him, edge defender Joey Bosa could be in for another big performance. Gregory, on the other hand, is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, which could benefit Los Angeles’ revamped offensive line.

Stud & dud in the secondary

Even though quarterback Tom Brady threw for 379 yards, cornerback Trevon Diggs was not a culprit. Tasked with covering three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, Diggs only allowed one completion (10 yards) and had an interception for a passer rating of 0.0. Anthony Brown, who was the team’s No. 2 corner last Thursday, gave up seven completions for 121 yards, one touchdown and a 158.3 passer rating.

Kicking issues

The Chargers were actually competent on special teams last weekend. The Cowboys, on the other hand, not so much. Veteran Greg Zuerlein missed a point after attempt (PAT) and a field goal from 31 yards out. Had Zuerlein at least made the field goal, Dallas would have won the game. Zuerlein’s struggles could be due to lingering after effects from injuries this offseason.

Chargers open as big underdogs vs. Chiefs in Week 2

The Kansas City Chiefs are seen as heavy favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers heading into Week 2.

After defeating the Bengals in the season opener, the Chargers are preparing to take on the Chiefs in the first game played at SoFi Stadium.

Los Angeles is opening the week as 8.5-point underdogs, per BetMGM.

The Bolts are coming off a 16-13 victory over the Bengals, led by the offensive performance of running back Joshua Kelley and defensive performances of defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Casey Hayward.

Meanwhile, the reigning Super Bowl champs started the 2020 season with a win over the Texans, 34-20. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire guided the team to victory.

The last time the two teams met was in the final game of 2019 season when the Chiefs took care of business at Arrowhead Stadium, 31-21.

Sunday’s matchup will begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and will be televised on CBS.

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