The Los Angeles Chargers make a rare visit to Lambeau Field Sunday when they pay a call on the Green Bay Packers. This will be just the 13th meeting all time between original members of both the NFL and AFL and only the 7th time since the merger that the Chargers have come to town. Despite the infrequency, Packers-Chargers have an interesting history. Green Bay made it’s Monday Night Football debut against the Chargers in San Diego in 1970, MNF’s inaugural season, a 22-20 Packer victory. The next time they headed west, the Packers turned over the Chargers an incredible 11 times, Willie Buchanon had four interceptions by himself in a 24-3 win back in 1978. Just as the 1981 season was getting underway, I got wind of a major trade involving the Chargers. Green Bay dealt wide receiver Aundra Thompson, a first round pick and two second rounders for John Jefferson who teamed with James Lofton and Paul Coffman to keep Lynn Dickey firing toward the end of his career. While he cut his career with the AFL Chargers in the 1960’s, he was a Los Angeles Ram in 1974 at the very end of his career when Dan Devine mortgaged the future big time, giving up two first round picks, two second choices and a third rounder for good measure to bring John Hadl to Green Bay. That might rank as one of the worst trades in franchise history. In 22 games with the Packers, Hadl threw 9 touchdown passes and 29 interceptions. The last time these two teams played, it was on a soccer pitch. The Chargers moved to Los Angeles to share the under construction SoFi Stadium with the Rams when the Packers played the Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of Major League Soccer’s L.A. Galaxy.
The Packers will be donning their 1950’s ear throwbacks this weekend. Clean yellow helmets, green shirts and pants with gold (more yellow) numbers and trim. It’d be nice if the Chargers followed suit with their classic powder blue and yellow getups.
Green Bay sits 3-6, in third in the NFC North and the Chargers come in 4-5, sharing third (and last) in the AFC West with Denver. After alternating two wins with two losses twice, L.A. arrives after last week’s shootout with Detr0it where the clubs piled up nearly 1000 yards only to have the Lions win 41-38 on a walk off field goal. So how’s this one going to go?
When the Packers have the ball.
Outside of some nicked up offensive linemen, the Packers will have their full compliment of playmakers available. It’s a good news, bad new scenario. The bad news was getting only limited practice time for Elgton Jenkins, Jon Runyan and Yosh Nijman all week. They’ll need another top notch effort against the 1-2 edge punching couple of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack who share 15 and a half sacks this year. Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom held down the edge fort pretty well against the Steelers last week. The good news with hopefully a near 100% Aaron Jones and the wide receivers is, Los Angeles has been prone to giving up explosive plays all season. They have forced a league high nine fumbles and their third down defense is one of the best but first and second down big plays have been killers. The Chargers are next to last in total yards allowed per game and dead last in passing yards per game. If ever there was a week to Christian Watson going, this is it. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich admitted Thursday the play calling has been a bit too reliant on deep shot, 50-50 balls for Watson who has struggled with just 14 catches to date. Look for intermediate crossing or over routes to see if they can get the ball in Watson’s hands while his swift legs are moving. Jones and A.J. Dillon have to be the early down workhorses to avoid lengthy third down conversions which is when L.A. is at it’s best. I’ll be curious to see if the Packers find themselves in a shootout, and can keep pace with the Chargers.
When the Chargers have the ball.
L.A. is high octane with Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen. Even dealing with a sore finger most of the year, Herbert has been solid with 17 touchdown passes against five interceptions. Ekeler is also getting past early season nicks (and testy contract discussions) but is rounding into form with 333 yards and four touchdowns. Joshua Kelley held down the fort while Ekeler was mending with nearly identical numbers. Allen fought through a shoulder injury this week and is expected to go. He might be one of the most underappreciated receivers in the league. He shares the NFL lead with 73 receptions this season, Allen is 4th in yards with 895 and he’s found the end zone six times. Those 73 catches have come on a whopping 97 targets. Second best on the team is Joshua Palmer, now on IR with 23 catches and 39 targets. Herbert looks for, and goes for Allen non-stop. It will be a stern test for the secondary especially with Rudy Ford (doubtful) and Jaire Alexander (questionable) going in. Carrington Valentine and Anthony Johnson Jr., the pair of seventh round draft picks will get a severe hands on lesson. The Packer run defense was shamed by Pittsburgh last week and they’ll need to keep Ekeler in check. That’s when quarterback pressure comes next. Rashan Gary’s “mishap” on Friday which left him questionable with a shoulder injury, could be a big factor. A Lukas Van Ness coming out party would be welcome. If Herbert is in rhythmic down and distance situations, the Chargers have proven they can move the ball on anyone and they put up 26.6 points a game, a total the Packers have reached but once.
The bottom line.
This is the first of a difficult three game stretch for the already reeling Packers. Another short Lions week awaits with Thanksgiving in Detroit followed by the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs coming to town. A year ago, the Packers were also 3-6, having lost five straight games since leaving London, back at home to face a talented Dallas Cowboys team. That turned into a back and forth affair with the Packers ending the slide with a 31-38 victory over Mike McCarthy’s ‘Boys. The Chargers are talented but far from a juggernaut. Something tells me the Packers are going to make a lot of plays and for the first time in a while, fewer mistakes to spring the upset.
I like the Pack, 27-24.
