Washington Football Team gets exciting Week 1 matchup with Los Angeles Chargers
The first week of the 2021 NFL schedule has been announced, and the Washington Football Team is getting an intriguing Week 1 opponent.
Washington will be getting a home game to kickstart the season and will be taking on the Los Angeles Chargers. That means that 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young will get a chance to tee off against the 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert for the first time during their careers.
Washington Football Team vs. Los Angeles Chargers Week 1
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In total, the Chargers should prove to be a nice test for Washington. Herbert is a dynamic, accurate young quarterback who played well for Los Angeles despite lacking offensive line talent last year. After the Chargers invested in blocking for him, he should have an easier time producing in his second season.
That said, Washington has one of the best defensive lines in the league and could have a chance to rattle Herbert if they can get pressure early and often. Young and Montez Sweat will be tasked with beating rookie tackle Rashawn Slater and veteran stalwart Bryan Bulaga while Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne will attempt to find a hole in the Chargers’ interior line (perhaps at the left guard spot).
We’ll get to see William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller match up against Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Jamin Davis will be tasked with helping to slow down Austin Ekeler. And the duo of Jared Cook and Donald Parham will see if they can expose Washington’s weakness in covering tight ends.
On the other side of the ball, Ryan Fitzpatrick will look to find Terry McLaurin in a matchup against Michael Davis while the offensive line focuses on slowing down Joey Bosa. The offense’s matchup is a bit worse, especially since Linval Joseph will help shore up the Chargers’ run defense, but it is still a winnable matchup.
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Will Washington be able to start the year 1-0? It’s far too early to say, but the Chargers certainly are a nice opponent to start the season with. They can be beaten, but they’ll provide a solid test for Washington, a test that their defense should be up to.