The NFL schedule has been released and with that, it means that fans can start buying tickets for the 2020 season. Over the course of the next few weeks, we here at uSports will be dissecting the regular season schedules of each of the NFL teams, and tell you what games you are going to want to attend.
GET L.A. CHARGERS TICKETS HERE!
I am really high on the Chargers in 2020. Although they finished with the worst record in the AFC West in 2019 going 5-11. Justin Herbert looks to be the quarterback of the future for the Chargers, whether or not he will start Week 1 for the team is still up in the air but fans should be excited. Whether it is Herbert or Tyrod Taylor starting for the Chargers Week 1, they will have some nice pieces around them on offense with Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry. The defense is what will carry this team and of all four defenses in the AFC West, the Chargers by far have the best in my opinion. With Joey Bosa, Linval Joseph and Melvin Ingram on the defensive line rushing the passer, first round pick Kenneth Murray and Denzel Perryman controlling the middle of the field at the linebacker position, and then in the secondary, they signed Chris Harris Jr. in free agency to play opposite of Casey Hayward Jr. and then there is Derwin James who is coming back from injury and is arguably a top-5 safety in football. Head coach Anthony Lynn has all the pieces to have a great team, now he has to put them all together and get them to the playoffs.
Full Chargers Schedule:
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5: at New Orleans Saints
Week 6: vs. New York Jets
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins
Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 9: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Week 12: at Buffalo Bills
Week 13: vs. New England Patriots
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 17: at Kansas City Chiefs
Looking at the Chargers’ schedule, I am very intrigued. Their first five weeks will not be easy by no stretch, playing the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Saints, with the Bucs and Saints games being on the road. Fortunately for the Chargers however, they have a really good defense on paper as I mentioned, and I feel that the Chargers can handle the high potency of those offenses. Especially that Tampa Bay game, if Tom Brady and that team needs some more time to gel together, Bosa and Ingram can have a field day. Then from Week 6 to Week 9, they play the Jets, Dolphins, Jaguars and Raiders. If the Chargers go worse than 3-1 in those games, something has gone wrong. Overall, with their bye week in Week 10, the Chargers could be at or near the top of their division at 7-2 or 6-3 which would be huge. After their bye, things get a tad tougher, but not much. The two games against Denver will be crucial because it is most likely that one of those two teams will be the second AFC West team in the playoffs as a wild card, and if either the Chargers or Broncos go 2-0, they will have a spot in the playoffs all but wrapped up. Buffalo and Atlanta will challenge the Chargers, but once again, their defense can carry them and neutralize strong offensives. As long as the Chargers’ offense doesn’t put them out of games, and just plays middle of the road, this team can easily be a 10-win team. Having their final three games against division foes will also be important. Ideally the Chargers would like to win all three of those games, but if they can just get two, they will be sitting pretty and possibly give the Chiefs a run for their money for the division crown.
With a young quarterback in Herbert possibly playing under center, some really nice offensive pieces around Herbert, and a top-10 defense on paper, the Chargers are a team I am going to want to see in person in 2020, and think you should try and see as well. Here are the five games I am going to try and make my way to:
- Week 2: Chiefs at Chargers
- Week 4: Chargers at Buccaneers
- Week 12: Chargers at Bills
- Week 14: Falcons at Chargers
- Week 16: Broncos at Chargers
All five of these games will be crucial for the Chargers’ success in 2020, and if they can have a winning record in these five games, that means something has gone right for them. Week 2 against the Chiefs will be the Chargers first game in SoFi Stadium, which is important, but they also play the defending Super Bowl champs and who knows, maybe the Chargers can steal a game here if the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are still riding the high from their championship last season. With their defense, if the Chargers can grab momentum of the game early, it will be a long day for Kansas City. As I mentioned with Week 4, if Brady and the Bucs need a little more time to gel, this can be another game the Chargers can steal on the road that will help them later on in their playoff pursuit. Week 12 against Buffalo and Week 14 against Atlanta are similar in that both teams have strong offenses, which will test the Chargers defense. With that Bills game specifically, they also have a really strong defense, and will challenge the Chargers offense. Of all the games on the Chargers schedule this season, that game against Buffalo might be their closest one in terms of playing an opponent who can match them on both sides of the ball and could give them fits, especially since that game will be played in Buffalo. Finally, Week 16 against the Broncos. As I have mentioned in previous pieces, those final games before the end of the regular season, every game is important, especially against division foes. This is a home game for the Chargers and a win here will almost cement their place in the playoffs I think.
GET L.A. CHARGERS TICKETS HERE!
