Okay, Chargers fans. I am sure that you are all bubbly and giddy after surviving Raider Nation and securing your first “home” victory at SoFi Stadium, taking sole possession in the AFC West to announce your arrival among the Super Bowl contenders.
Right on the heels of the Rams return to reality, the Chargers pretty much dominated the Raiders 28-14 amid a sea of drunken and wild Raiders fans who came to Inglewood, ran roughshod through the parking lots and then turned SoFi into their own den.
I began seeing the Raider fans swarming on Hawthorne Blvd. boarding the MTA enroute to the stadium, engulfing the poor powder blue and gold Chargers fans on their way.
However, thanks to big games from running back Austin Ekeler, rifleman Justin Herbert and the defensive tandem of Joey Bosa and Derwin James Jr., the Bolts improved to 3-1 on the season and are raising eyebrows throughout the media landscape as to their potential.
What we do know so far after just four games, is that head coach Brandon Staley is the real deal. The only difference between the Rams and Chargers is him, and so far he has demonstrated that his philosophy of dictating what the opponent offense does and orchestrating a scheme to position his defense to make plays is borderline genius.
Keep in mind that the Chargers are a few bad offensive penalties from being 4-0. Arguably the two most dynamic offenses in the NFL the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs managed to only score 20 and 24 points respectively against Staley’s defense.
Jon Gruden’s Raider’s roared into SoFi Stadium as the top offense in the league and left with their tails in their hand and confused as to what type of team they really have.
In the meanwhile the Chargers will welcome the 3-1 Cleveland Browns and their menacing defensive end Myles Garret for their week five encounter on Oct. 10.
Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is playing for a contract extension as the stakes have increased enormously in Ohio.
No longer do the Browns want to just make the playoffs, they did that last season and scared the daylights out of Kansas City.
They want to go to the playoffs and win some meaningful games.
And oh by the way, the Chargers have won 7 of 8 games going back to last season, so this isn’t just a mere transition from one coaching regime to another. They need to win now also.
First and foremost, the Raiders fan base served as an ominous warning to what will happen if the Chargers don’t win and begin developing its own fan base.
Win and they will come. Lose and… you already know.
