CHARGERS (3-1) vs. COMMANDERS (2-2)
When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11); 640 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 2.5
Notable injury designations
Chargers: OUT: LT Joe Alt (ankle), WR Derius Davis (knee); QUESTIONABLE: RG Mekhi Becton (concussion), TE Will Dissly (knee), TE Tucker Fisk (toe).
Commanders: OUT: WR Noah Brown (groin/knee), G Sam Cosmi (knee), WR Terry McLaurin (quadriceps).
What’s at stake: The Chargers could use a bounce-back game after safety Derwin James Jr. called their 21-18 loss last Sunday to the New York Giants a “complete team loss.” Their first defeat of the season featured a couple of superb performances, though. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton rushed for 128 yards and one touchdown on only 12 carries. Tuli Tuipulotu, a third-year edge rusher out of USC, had a career-high four sacks plus an additional tackle for a loss. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels sat out the past two games because of a sprained knee, but received clearance to resume practicing Wednesday. The Commanders were 1-1 with Marcus Mariota replacing Daniels.
Who’s better: Daniels’ absence because an injury has made it difficult to gauge the Commanders’ place in the NFL’s hierarchy. Are they an elite team, as they certainly were last season with the former Cajon High star directing them deep into the playoffs? The Chargers sure looked like an elite team in victories over the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos, but then they crashed back on planet earth during their sloppy, lackluster and ineffective play against the Giants. So, who are these teams, really, going into their matchup in Week 5?
Matchup to watch: Injuries to key Chargers players have turned an above-average offensive line into a middling one at best. Justin Herbert was under near-constant pressure by the Giants and passed for a season-low 203 yards. The question of whether the Chargers’ offensive line can protect Herbert from the Commanders’ defense is undoubtedly the biggest one going into the game. Herbert has been sacked seven times and hit 26 times in the past two games. Those are concerning numbers and they’re not likely to improve with their two best tackles, Alt and Rashawn Slater (season-ending knee injury sustained in training camp), sidelined and their top guard, Becton, recovering from a concussion.
Chargers win if: The Chargers’ offensive line must protect Herbert in order to move the ball better than they did against the Giants. Their line also must continue to create openings for Hampton, who was their best offensive weapon by far in Week 4. Also, the Chargers must contain Daniels, who is equally adept at passing and running. They did it against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and, to a lesser extent, Geno Smith and the Raiders and Bo Nix of the Broncos. They seemed to have no clue what was coming next in the opening quarter from Giants rookie Jaxson Dart, though.
Fantasy sleeper: Hampton. Maybe sleeper isn’t the right word after his breakout game against New York. Hampton will be the Chargers’ featured back for the rest of the season in the wake of Najee Harris’ season-ending Achilles tendon injury sustained in Week 3 against the Broncos. Hampton and Herbert, who had one run for 24 yards against New York, were their only ball carriers in Week 4.
Prediction: The Chargers are injury depleted as are the Commanders. Chargers 24, Commanders 20. It’s not exactly a mortal lock, though. Expect a tight game one way or another.