CHARGERS (0-3) at SEAHAWKS (2-1)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lumen Stadium, Seattle
TV/Radio: Ch. 2; 640 AM/103.9/98.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Seahawks by 7
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: LG Kayode Awosika (fibula), TE Charlie Kolar (forearm), WR Brenen Thompson (quadricep), DL Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: CB Donte Jackson (concussion), S Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), QB Trey Lance (groin), WR Ladd McConkey (foot), S Elijah Molden (hamstring).
Seahawks: OUT: RB Zach Charbonnet (knee), RB Jadarian Price (chest); QUESTIONABLE: S Ty Okada (hamstring), LB Chazz Surratt (calf).
What’s at stake: The Chargers haven’t started 0-4 since the 2017 season, their first in for Los Angeles after departing San Diego. They rallied for a 9-7 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West. The Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, but they’re coming off a loss in Week 3 to the Washington Commanders and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota that ended their 12-game winning streak that dated to November of last season. The Chargers expect a salty response from the Seahawks in their noisy home stadium.
Who’s better: Tough to argue that the Seahawks aren’t the better team, given their stellar 2025 season and Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, the team that defeated the Chargers in an AFC wild-card game. Seattle had one of the NFL’s top defenses last season and absolutely nothing has changed to start this season, although Mariota did throw three touchdown passes and the Commanders did score 33 points in Sunday’s victory over the Seahawks.
Matchup to watch: Can the Chargers adequately protect quarterback Justin Herbert and can Herbert finally find some semblance of rhythm and confidence in Mike McDaniel’s offense? So far, in losses to the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills, Herbert has moved the Chargers’ offense only in spurts. Their best possessions have been their opening drives of each half, when plays are likely scripted ahead of time. Herbert needs more help from his teammates and his teammates need more help from him if they are to win.
Chargers win if: The Chargers can’t have a repeat of the unforced errors that have plagued them during their three-game losing streak to start the season. They can’t jump offside. They can’t false start. They can’t hold. They can’t be penalized for illegal blocks. They also can’t fumble or throw interceptions. Forcing turnovers is a key, too, since their margin for error is so small. It also would help if they converted red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
Fantasy sleeper: Running back Omarion Hampton could be the X-factor if the Chargers’ ground game continues to improve and Herbert continues to post rather pedestrian numbers in the passing game. What’s that old saying? The running game sets up the passing game and the passing game sets up the running game? Something like that, anyway.
Prediction: Upset special? Nah, that was last week when the Seahawks lost to the Commanders. Game that turns around the Chargers’ season? Well, there’s a reason the oddsmakers favor the Seahawks by a touchdown, and who are we to argue? The misery index continues to rise for the Chargers against the Super Bowl champs. Seahawks 20, Chargers 10.