How the Chargers Week 1 Matchup Could Already Have Heavy Playoff Implications
Every game matters throughout the course of the NFL season. One loss could have massive ramifications on playoff seeding or even on any momentum that has been gained.
Division games are typically dogfights as the teams know each other extremely well, and most of the time, rosters are built to withstand divisions.
Every year, we see big-time matchups on the schedule, and every year, it means something. As the new year gets ready to kick off this week, there is one major matchup happening that could impact everything down the line.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins are getting set to square off in their season openers on Sunday at Sofi Stadium. Both teams are coming off years where they made the playoffs, and both have expectations for themselves to improve on that success.
So, we should expect a playoff-style setting when they take the field against one another. After all, these two teams are expected to be some of the better squads in the AFC Conference, thus setting up potential seeding implications in the game.
The Bolts will need to figure out a way to contain the overall speed of the Dolphins wide receivers. Miami loves to use different schemes on offense to get their guys into open space, which proved very successful last season. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will give the Chargers secondary some fits, so they need to be ready at all times.
Whoever wins will overtake the other in terms of the head-to-head matchup if they were to end the season with the same record. So even this week, one matchup means something, and both teams will take it very seriously.
The Chargers and Dolphins faced each other last season, with Los Angeles coming out on top by a score of 23-17.
We should be in line for another close matchup as these two explosive offensive teams take the field for the first time this year.