CHARGERS (3-3) vs. SAINTS (2-5)
When: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/Radio: Ch.11; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 7
Notable injury designations: Chargers: DOUBTFUL: WR Derius Davis (hamstring), WR Quentin Johnston (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: OLB Joey Bosa (hip), WR DJ Chark (groin), TE Will Dissly (shoulder), TE Hayden Hurst (groin), WR Ladd McConkey (hip), LB Denzel Perryman (toe). Saints: OUT: G Nick Saldiveri (shoulder), WR Cedric Wilson Jr. (hip). DOUBTFUL: QB Derek Carr (oblique).
What’s at stake: The Chargers should have parked their Week 7 clunker by the side of the road by now and moved on to Week 8. If not, if they’re still dwelling on it, then it could make for a long Sunday against the Saints. The Chargers are heading into the heart of their schedule, a stretch of games against middling to poor opponents that began with their loss last Monday night to the Arizona Cardinals and continues with their home date with the Saints. New Orleans has lost five consecutive after blowout victories over the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys to start the season.
Who’s better: The Chargers are favored by the oddsmakers for a reason, although the spread seems a little heavy in the home team’s favor. Justin Herbert is rounding into form after he was hobbled by a sprained right ankle suffered in Week 2 against the Panthers and aggravated in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw for a season-best 349 yards in the Chargers’ 17-15 loss to the Cardinals in Week 7, but didn’t throw a touchdown pass. The Saints will go with backup QB Spencer Rattler over injured starter Derek Carr. Advantage, Chargers.
Matchup to watch: The Chargers vowed to tackle the Saints better than they tackled the Cardinals. By one estimation, they missed 16 tackles against Arizona, a season high, and they had an especially difficult time bringing down running back James Conner, who rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries. They said they would work on their technique in preparation for facing Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has rushed for 438 yards and six touchdowns on 111 carries this season.
Chargers win if: Well, scoring a touchdown would be a great help if the Chargers expect to beat the Saints and avoid their second two-game losing streak of the season. They got five field goals from Cameron Dicker against the Cardinals, including a career-best and franchise record-tying kick of 59 yards. What’s more the Chargers haven’t scored a touchdown in the second half of a game since their victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. That’s suboptimal.
Fantasy sleeper: Dicker. How do you go with anyone else? He’s made 15 of 16 field goals this season, and was five for five in the Chargers’ loss to the Cardinals. He’s also four for five from 50 yards and beyond this season. He’s about as reliable as anyone performing any role in a Chargers uniform this season.
Prediction: Injuries to the Chargers’ pass catchers could make this game a lot closer than it would be if everyone was healthy. Then again, the Saints will be without Carr at quarterback, so that could even out matters. It’s difficult to pick against the Chargers under any circumstances. Chargers 16, Saints 14.