OROY vs DROY: Week 1 Preview of the Washington Football Team vs Los Angeles Chargers

Originally posted on Full Press Coverage
By Mason Abernethy | Last updated 9/10/21

As of today, it marks two days before the week one matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Washington Football Team.

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young face-off in Landover, Maryland at 1 p.m. EST. As said above, this game is more important than I, and many others, think.

It was just reported an hour or two ago that WR Curtis Samuel will be placed on the IR list due to the lingering groin injury that seems to still be around. Smart move by Washington.

One key match-up in this game is rookie Offensive Tackle Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern and Chase Young. I bring this up as an Ohio State fan and a Washington fan because if we go back two years in the Big 10, Rashawn Slater and Chase Young we against each other a majority of the time and frankly Rashawn Slater won their match-ups. However, I do think this year it will be different due to the domination Chase Young had in his rookie campaign last season.

A very questionable factor in this game is also whether or not Chargers RB Austin Ekeler will be in action in Landover. The man who drafted himself first overall in his fantasy football league has been battling a hamstring injury over the week and hasn’t been a participant leading up to the game this Sunday. This could be huge for Washington if Ekeler sits out Week 1. If Ekeler plays it will be a great test on Rookie LB Jamin Davis to dominate the run-stop game. If Ekeler is out, Davis still has a great test with his pass coverage abilities against the likes of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

In general, this match-up is even in terms of betting and talent on the field. Washington has a new QB under center in Ryan Fitzpatrick as well as solidified weapons in Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson, and Logan Thomas as well as young guys who will see the field in Dyami Brown and Sammis Reyes.

It has been two years since we’ve seen a packed FedEx Field. Regardless of who plays and who doesn’t play, the environment and atmosphere in the stadium is enough to make a grumpy old man smile a bit. Tune in Sunday 1 p.m. EST on CBS where Washington and the Chargers face-off for week one.